ESA Alpine Regional Initiative AlpGlacier EXPRO+

AlpGlacier is a research project within ESA's Alpine Regional Initiative that is concerned with the development of innovative products derived from satellite data for serving scientific interests and operational needs in the Alpine region. The focus is on novel algorithms and techniques to create the most complete and coherent suite of products that can be derived from SAR and optical satellite sensors for glaciers and their surrounding environments. The following products are derived for the European Alps:

• Snow cover on glaciers
• Glacier surface flow velocity
• Dynamics of glacier lakes
• Slope instabilities in glacier forefields

The AlpGlacier The AlpGlacier activity is part of the Scientific Data Exploitation Element of ESA's fifth Earth Observation Envelope Programme, which addresses needs of the Earth observation (EO) and Earth system science communities regarding innovative methods and products and the development of open science tools.

This activity represents an ESA contribution to the International Network for Alpine Research Catchment Hydrology (INARCH) initiative of the Global Energy and Water Exchanges (GEWEX) project of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). INARCH aims at strengthening the understanding of alpine cold regions hydrological processes, improving their prediction and finding consistent measurement strategies. Additionally, this activity responds to the Integrated High Mountain Observation and Prediction Initiative launched by the Call for Action of the WMO High Mountain Summit in Geneva in October 2019.

Project Period: January 2021 - December 2022

ESA Contract No. 4000133436/20/I-NB