Digital elevation models by a GBSAR interferometer for monitoring glaciers: the case study of Belvedere Glacier

Belvedere Glacier, east face of the Mount Rosa, has experienced drastic changes in flow regime and morphology in the last years. Within the activities of the European project GALAHAD a Ground Based SAR (GB-SAR) interferometer was employed for the first time on this glacier. In the present work it is reported how the sensor capability of generating digital elevation models (DEMs) was exploited in order to retrieve information about the occurred surface changes. In particular, in this case study, the DEM obtained by the radar on summer 2007 was compared with two previous DEMs from other sources: one relative to summer 2005 and the other to summer 1995. Significant differences in the ice surface height have appeared from the comparison reflecting both the extraordinary surge type movement occurred in 2003-2004 and afterwards the overall reduction of the ice mass.