High-Speed Drones to Monitor Greenland's Ice Sheet

The Greenland ice sheet, a crucial component of the Earth's climate system, is facing significant threats due to climate change, particularly from accelerated melting. In response to this challenge, researchers from the University of Bergen in Norway, in collaboration with drone specialists from Marble, have devised an innovative method to monitor the ice sheet effectively. This initiative aims to provide real-time updates on the state of the ice, generating detailed maps twice daily.

Beginning in May, the project will commence with initial tests near the Ilulissat Icefjord in western Greenland. The team plans to deploy a fleet of high-speed drones capable of regularly surveying the ice and producing comprehensive maps of the Greenland ice sheet. This initiative represents a significant advancement in monitoring technology, as it seeks to establish a cost-effective surveillance system that utilizes drones to cover vast areas quickly.

Unlike conventional drones used in marine monitoring, these specialized drones must contend with harsher weather conditions, including high winds and low temperatures. Consequently, the researchers will need to refine their technology and techniques to ensure optimal performance under these challenging circumstances.

The drones will be equipped with advanced sensors, including Lidar, cameras, and radar, to collect and analyze data that will contribute to the creation of high-resolution maps. This automated process is expected to be significantly faster, more detailed, and more economical than traditional methods involving satellites or manned aircraft. The scientists anticipate reducing operational costs by a factor of 1,000, as the need for human presence on-site will be eliminated.

The primary goal of this monitoring system is to keep a close watch on the Greenland ice sheet, which is the second-largest body of ice on the planet and plays a vital role in influencing global sea levels through its melting. If the entire Greenland ice mass were to melt over centuries or millennia, it could potentially lead to a rise in global sea levels by up to seven meters.

Initially, the researchers will focus on immediate changes in the ice sheet's condition. Current models project a potential sea-level rise of up to one meter by the end of the century, making precise data collection essential for accurate forecasting. The new ice maps generated by the drones will be crucial for understanding fluctuations in ice thickness and behavior, thereby helping to identify potential climate tipping points.

Previous data derived from satellite images have been deemed insufficiently precise for this critical task. Accurate measurements of ice thickness are necessary to predict glacier behavior, which is vital for early detection of climatic shifts.