Utilising seismic station internal GPS for tracking surging glacier sliding velocity

Abstract

Glacier ice flux is a key indicator of mass balance; therefore, accurate monitoring of ice dynamics is essential. Satellite-based methods are widely used for glacier velocity measurements but are limited by satellite revisit frequency. This study explores using seismic station internal GPS data to track glacier movement. While less accurate than differential GPS, this method offers high-temporal resolution as a by-product where seismic stations are deployed. Using a seismic station on Borebreen, Svalbard, we show that internal GPS provides reliable surface velocity measurements. When compared with satellite-inferred velocities, the results show a strong correlation, suggesting that the internal GPS, despite its inherent uncertainty, can serve as an efficient tool for glacier velocity monitoring. The high-temporal sampling reveals short-term dynamics of speed-up events and underscores the role of meltwater in driving these processes. This approach augments glacier observation networks at no additional cost.