Kelly (2026) Remote sensing of the cryosphere from space: From multi-disciplinary to cryosphere-focused earth observing missions

Identification

• Journal: Elsevier eBooks
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-01
• Authors: Richard Kelly
• DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-85242-5.00086-5

Research Groups

Department of Geography & Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada

Short Summary

This chapter reviews the application of remote sensing in cryospheric science, detailing the evolution from multi-disciplinary to dedicated cryosphere-focused missions and their role in monitoring the state and variability of Earth's frozen regions. It synthesizes fundamental remote sensing principles and their specific applications across various cryospheric components, highlighting how advanced satellite systems enhance our understanding of a rapidly changing cryosphere.

Objective

• To provide a comprehensive overview of remote sensing applications in cryospheric science, detailing fundamental principles, system types (imaging vs. non-imaging), and their use in monitoring the state and variability of glaciers, ice sheets, sea ice, snow, soil freeze-thaw, and lake/river ice.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Global to regional, covering all major cryospheric components.
• Temporal Scale: Decades of remote sensing observations, from historical multi-disciplinary missions to contemporary cryosphere-focused and multi-satellite constellation systems.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not applicable; this is a review of remote sensing techniques and applications, not a study employing specific models.
• Data sources: Satellite remote sensing (imaging and non-imaging systems), including various types of sensors (e.g., optical, radar, altimetry) used for cryospheric variable retrieval.

Main Results

• Remote sensing is fundamental for monitoring the state and variability of Earth's cryosphere, encompassing glaciers, ice sheets, sea ice, snow cover, soil freeze-thaw, and lake/river ice.
• Key cryospheric variables monitored include glacier extent, surface elevation, mass balance, velocity, and facies; ice sheet extent, volume changes, melt dynamics, and velocity; sea ice concentration, classification, thickness, and motion; snow cover extent, snow water equivalent, and wet snow mapping; soil freeze-thaw state; and lake/river ice extent and thickness.
• The field has evolved from relying on multi-disciplinary remote sensing systems to utilizing dedicated cryosphere-focused missions and multi-satellite constellations, significantly improving observation frequency and data quality.
• Advances in remote sensing have enhanced the ability to characterize the cryosphere and provide new insights into its ongoing changes.

Contributions

• Provides a comprehensive synthesis of remote sensing principles and their diverse applications across all major cryospheric components.
• Highlights the historical evolution and current state of satellite remote sensing missions, emphasizing the shift towards cryosphere-focused systems and multi-satellite constellations.
• Serves as a foundational resource for understanding how remote sensing data is acquired, processed, and utilized to monitor cryospheric change, guiding readers to essential data sources.

Funding

Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Kelly2026Remote,
  author = {Kelly, Richard},
  title = {Remote sensing of the cryosphere from space: From multi-disciplinary to cryosphere-focused earth observing missions},
  journal = {Elsevier eBooks},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/b978-0-323-85242-5.00086-5},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-85242-5.00086-5}
}