Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica

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The Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA) is a digital elevation model (DEM) that covers almost the entire continent of Antarctica at a resolution of less than 10 m. [1]

Contents

Model

REMA uses stereophotogrammetry to provide high-quality surface measurements of the surface of the ice sheet that covers most of the continent, despite the low contrast of the satellite images. Elements of the mosaic include an error estimate and a time stamp, so changes in the ice or snow surface can be measured. [1] Absolute uncertainty should be less than 1 meter, and relative uncertainties should be in decimeters. [2] The satellite images have pixel ground resolutions of under 0.5 meters, and overlapping images from different angles can be used to extract elevation data for DEMs. Based only on satellite position, there may be errors of several meters, but through ground control registration these can be reduced to point-to-point errors of 20 centimeters or less, comparable in accuracy to airborne lidar. [3]

Most of the initial data was collected over the austral summer seasons of 2015 and 2016. [4] The model is updated with new DEM strips twice per year. Derived mosaic products are added as they become available. [5]

Data sources and licensing

REMA was built using stereoscopic imagery from the WorldView-1, WorldView-2, WorldView-3 and GeoEye-1 satellites, operated by DigitalGlobe. [2] The images are distributed by the Polar Geospatial Center at the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering under a scientific use licensing agreement with the United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. [6] The stereopair images were processed by software developed at the Ohio State University to create DEMs using the Blue Waters supercomputer at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. [7] The images are available only to US federally funded investigators, but the derived products, including DEMs, are distributed openly. [3]

REMA Explorer

The Polar Geospatial Center supports a REMA Explorer application that lets public users browse the data online. They can enter coordinates or a place name to zoom in on a small area, and choose different renderings such as hill shades, elevation tinted, contour. They can obtain information about any point of the ice surface, including resolution, aspect, slope, ellipsoid height and orthometric height. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital elevation model</span> 3D computer-generated imagery and measurements of terrain

A digital elevation model (DEM) or digital surface model (DSM) is a 3D computer graphics representation of elevation data to represent terrain or overlaying objects, commonly of a planet, moon, or asteroid. A "global DEM" refers to a discrete global grid. DEMs are used often in geographic information systems (GIS), and are the most common basis for digitally produced relief maps. A digital terrain model (DTM) represents specifically the ground surface while DEM and DSM may represent tree top canopy or building roofs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antim Peak</span> Mountain on Smith Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Antim Peak is the ice-covered peak rising to 1,995 m in Imeon Range on Smith Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Situated 2.25 km and 1.3 km northeast of the summit Mount Foster and Evlogi Peak, respectively, 5.4 km south-southwest of Mount Pisgah, 16 km southwest of Cape Smith, and 16 km northeast of Cape James. The peak surmounts Chuprene Glacier to the west and northwest, Krivodol Glacier to the northeast and east, and Pashuk Glacier to the southeast. It has ben confirmed to be a separate peak rather than part of Mount Foster by the team of Greg Landreth that made the first ascent of the latter in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slaveykov Peak</span>

Slaveykov Peak is a sharp peak rising to 1,674 m in Imeon Range on Smith Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The feature is situated 2 km southwest of the summit Mount Foster, to which it is linked by Zavet Saddle, 1.12 km north-northeast of Neofit Peak, 2.4 km east of Lakatnik Point and 3.45 km northwest of Ivan Asen Point. It overlooks Armira Glacier to the southeast and Bistra Glacier to the north. Bulgarian mapping in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Foster</span> Mountain in Smith Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Mount Foster is a peak rising to 2,025 metres (6,644 ft) in the Imeon Range on Smith Island in the South Shetland Islands of the British Antarctic Territory. It is the highest point of the South Shetland Islands archipelago. Mount Foster has triple peaks of which Mount Foster proper is the southernmost, the central one is Evlogi Peak (2,024 m), and the northern one is Antim Peak (1,995 m). The first ascent was made by Greg Landreth and his team comprising Brice Dowrick, Dan Mannix and Roger Thompson on 29-30 January 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Pisgah (Smith Island)</span>

Mount Pisgah is a peak rising to 1814 m in the north-central part of Imeon Range on Smith Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. It is linked by Kostenets Saddle to Drinov Peak to the southwest, and surmounts Dalgopol Glacier to the north and Vetrino Glacier to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neofit Peak</span>

Neofit Peak is an ice-covered peak rising to 1657 m in Imeon Range on Smith Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Situated 1.12 km south-southwest of Slaveykov Peak, 3.1 km southwest of the summit Mount Foster, 2.38 km northeast of Riggs Peak and 10.98 km northeast of Cape James. Overlooking Gramada Glacier to the south, and Armira Glacier to the east and southeast. Bulgarian early mapping in 2009. Named after the Bulgarian monk, scholar and artist Neofit Rilski (1793–1881) who translated the Bible into modern Bulgarian language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riggs Peak</span> Peak in the South Shetland Islands

Riggs Peak is a peak rising to 1,601 m in Imeon Range on Smith Island, South Shetland Islands. It is situated 2.38 km southwest of Neofit Peak, 5.4 km southwest of the summit Mount Foster, and 8.6 km northeast of Cape James. It overlooks Letnitsa Glacier to the south, and Gramada Glacier to the east. It was mapped by Bulgaria in 2009. The peak was named after the American missionary and linguist Elias Riggs (1810–1901) who contributed greatly to the Bulgarian National Revival, and organized the first translation, printing and dissemination of the Bible in modern Bulgarian language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Organa Peak</span> Mountain in South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Organa Peak is a peak rising to 1194 m in Imeon Range on Smith Island, South Shetland Islands. Situated 6.8 km northeast of Cape James, and 1.85 km south-southwest of Riggs Peak. Overlooking Letnitsa Glacier to the east and southeast, and Kremena Ice Piedmont to the south. Bulgarian early mapping in 2009. Named after the Bulgarian ruler Organa, regent of Bulgars and uncle of Khan Kubrat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madan Saddle</span>

Madan Saddle is a saddle of elevation 1046 m in Imeon Range on Smith Island, South Shetland Islands bounded by Neofit Peak to the northeast and Riggs Peak to the south-southwest. Overlooking Gramada Glacier to the southeast. Bulgarian early mapping in 2009. Named after the town of Madan in the Rhodope Mountains, southern Bulgaria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zavet Saddle</span>

Zavet Saddle is a saddle of elevation 1350 m in Imeon Range on Smith Island, South Shetland Islands bounded by Slaveykov Peak to the southwest and the summit Mount Foster to the northeast. Overlooking Dragoman Glacier to the southeast and Bistra Glacier to the northwest. The feature is named after the town of Zavet in northeastern Bulgaria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evlogi Peak</span>

Evlogi Peak is a peak rising to 2,024 m in Imeon Range on Smith Island, South Shetland Islands. It is situated 1 km north-northeast of the summit Mount Foster, and 1.3 km southwest of Antim Peak, with intervening saddles of elevation 1,899 and 1,744 m, respectively. Its prominence of 126 m makes it a distinct peak rather than a twin peak to Mount Foster as previously believed. It overlooks Chuprene Glacier to the northwest, Pashuk Glacier to the east and Rupite Glacier to the southeast. Bulgarian mapping in 2009. The peak was named after the Bulgarian financier, industrialist and philanthropist Evlogi Georgiev (1819–1897) whose endowment funded the construction of Sofia University’s main building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slatina Peak</span>

Slatina Peak is a peak rising to 1691 m in Imeon Range on Smith Island, South Shetland Islands. Situated 2 km northeast of Antim Peak, to which it is linked by Varshets Saddle, 4.09 km east by south of Villagra Point, and 1.9 km south of Drinov Peak. Overlooking the upper part of Chuprene Glacier to the northwest, and Krivodol Glacier to the southwest and south. Bulgarian early mapping in 2009. Named after the Bulgarian settlements of Slatina in Montana, Lovech, Plovdiv, Silistra and Sofia regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Varshets Saddle</span>

Varshets Saddle is a saddle of elevation 1087 m in Imeon Range on Smith Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica bounded by Antim Peak to the south-southwest and Slatina Peak to the east. Overlooking Chuprene Glacier to the northwest and Krivodol Glacier to the south and southeast. The feature is named after the town of Varshets in northwestern Bulgaria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drinov Peak</span>

Drinov Peak is a peak rising to 1519 m in Imeon Range on Smith Island, South Shetland Islands. Situated 3.6 km north-northeast of Antim Peak, 1.9 km north of Slatina Peak, 2.91 km east-southeast of Jireček Point and 1.85 km southwest of Mount Pisgah. Overlooking Ovech Glacier to the southeast, Vetrino Glacier to the north, Yablanitsa Glacier to northwest, and Chuprene Glacier to the southwest. Bulgarian early mapping in 2009. Named after the Bulgarian scientist Marin Drinov (1838–1906), founding chairman of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mezek Peak</span>

Mezek Peak is a sharp peak rising to 1555 m in Imeon Range on Smith Island, South Shetland Islands. Situated 1.07 km east of Mount Pisgah and 4.02 km southwest by south of Mount Christi. Precipitous and predominantly ice-free east slopes. Overlooking Dalgopol Glacier to the northwest and Nosei Glacier to the east. Bulgarian early mapping in 2009. Named after the medieval fortress of Mezek in southeastern Bulgaria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matochina Peak</span>

Matochina Peak is a peak rising to 784 m in the north extremity of Imeon Range on Smith Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Situated 3.3 km west-southwest of Cape Smith and 3.2 km northeast of Mount Christi. Overlooking Saparevo Glacier to the west and southwest, Vedena Cove to the west and Glozhene Cove to the northeast. Bulgarian early mapping in 2009. Named after the settlement and medieval fortress of Matochina in southeastern Bulgaria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vakarel Saddle</span>

Vakarel Saddle is a crescent-shaped ice-covered saddle of elevation 1744 m in Imeon Range on Smith Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica bounded by Antim Peak to the east-northeast, and Evlogi Peak to the southwest, and overlooking Chuprene Glacier to the northwest. The feature is named after the settlement of Vakarel in western Bulgaria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kostenets Saddle</span>

Kostenets Saddle is the saddle of elevation 1302 m in Imeon Range on Smith Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica bounded by Mount Pisgah to the north and the east ridge of Drinov Peak to the south. It overlooks the head of Vetrino Glacier to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tsarigrad Peak</span>

Tsarigrad Peak is sharp ice-covered peak rising to 1689 m in Imeon Range, Smith Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Overlooking Armira Glacier to the southeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polar Geospatial Center</span>

The Polar Geospatial Center is a research center at the University of Minnesota's College of Science and Engineering funded by the National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs. Founded in 2007, the Polar Geospatial Center "provides geospatial support, mapping, and GIS/remote sensing solutions to researchers and logistics groups in the polar science community." It is currently directed by Paul Morin.

References

  1. 1 2 Howat et al. 2019, p. 665.
  2. 1 2 Howat et al. 2019, p. 666.
  3. 1 2 Howat et al. 2019, p. 667.
  4. ↑ Kel Elkins 2022.
  5. ↑ Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica AWS.
  6. ↑ Howat et al. 2019, pp. 666–667.
  7. ↑ REMA PGC.
  8. ↑ REMA Explorer PGC.

Sources

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