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An improved topographic database for King George Island: compilation, application and outlook

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 April 2004

Matthias Braun ,
Jefferson C. Simões ,
Steffen Vogt ,
Ulisses F. Bremer ,
Norbert Blindow ,
Marion Pfender ,
Helmut Saurer ,
Francisco E. Aquino  and
Francisco A. Ferron
Matthias Braun
Affiliation:
Institut für Physische Geographie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Werderring 4, D–79085 Freiburg, Germany
Jefferson C. Simões
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Pesquisas Antárticas e Glaciológicas, Departamento de Geografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501–970 Porto Alegre, Brazil
Steffen Vogt
Affiliation:
Institut für Physische Geographie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Werderring 4, D–79085 Freiburg, Germany
Ulisses F. Bremer
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Pesquisas Antárticas e Glaciológicas, Departamento de Geografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501–970 Porto Alegre, Brazil
Norbert Blindow
Affiliation:
Institut für Geophysik, Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 24, D–48149 Münster, Germany
Marion Pfender
Affiliation:
Institut für Geophysik, Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 24, D–48149 Münster, Germany
Helmut Saurer
Affiliation:
Institut für Physische Geographie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Werderring 4, D–79085 Freiburg, Germany
Francisco E. Aquino
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Pesquisas Antárticas e Glaciológicas, Departamento de Geografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501–970 Porto Alegre, Brazil
Francisco A. Ferron
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Pesquisas Antárticas e Glaciológicas, Departamento de Geografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501–970 Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Abstract

A new topographic database for King George Island, one of the most visited areas in Antarctica, is presented. Data from differential GPS surveys, gained during the summers 1997/98 and 1999/2000, were combined with up to date coastlines from a SPOT satellite image mosaic, and topographic information from maps as well as from the Antarctic Digital Database. A digital terrain model (DTM) was generated using ARC/INFO GIS. From contour lines derived from the DTM and the satellite image mosaic a satellite image map was assembled. Extensive information on data accuracy, the database as well as on the criteria applied to select place names is given in the multilingual map. A lack of accurate topographic information in the eastern part of the island was identified. It was concluded that additional topographic surveying or radar interferometry should be conducted to improve the data quality in this area. In three case studies, the potential applications of the improved topographic database are demonstrated. The first two examples comprise the verification of glacier velocities and the study of glacier retreat from the various input data-sets as well as the use of the DTM for climatological modelling. The last case study focuses on the use of the new digital database as a basic GIS (Geographic Information System) layer for environmental monitoring and management on King George Island.

Keywords

Antarctic PeninsulaDigital Terrain Modelenvironmental managementGeographic Information SystemKing George Islandsatellite image map
Type
Papers—Earth Sciences and Glaciology
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , March 2001 , pp. 41 - 52
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 2001

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