Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Methods of Obtaining Topography

Methods of Obtaining Topography

Topography involves measuring and mapping land elevations, natural features, and artificial structures to create accurate representations of the terrain. Topographic surveying relies on traditional and modern methods, each with distinct advantages and limitations.Traditional Surveying Methods:Transit stadia surveys and plane table surveys were widely used traditional surveying methods. These techniques relied on instruments like theodolites and stadia rods for measuring distances and angles,...

Coordinates and Map Projections

Coordinates and Map Projections

Coordinates and map projections are essential tools in accurately representing the Earth's surface for various applications, ranging from navigation to spatial analysis. The latitude and longitude coordinate system is a universally recognized framework for defining locations. Latitude specifies the distance of a point north or south of the equator, measured in degrees from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles. Longitude indicates a location's position east or west of the prime meridian,...

Global Climate Change

Global Climate Change

Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.

Thematic Layering in GIS

Thematic Layering in GIS

In the past, planning projects such as schools or public facilities required extensive manual effort to gather and compile data. Information such as property boundaries, soil characteristics, road networks, zoning regulations, and flood zones had to be sourced individually from courthouses, utility providers, and registry offices. Assembling these datasets into a coherent format often took several months, delaying project timelines.The introduction of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)...

Plotting of Topographic Maps

Plotting of Topographic Maps

Topographic maps represent the Earth's surface features using contour lines, which connect points of equal elevation to create a two-dimensional representation of three-dimensional terrain. Creating a topographic map requires a systematic approach.Begin by plotting a scaled grid and marking intersections corresponding to the survey's elevation data points. Assign elevation values at these intersections to build the base map. Next, determine contour levels using a consistent contour interval,...

Topographic Surveying and Contours

Topographic Surveying and Contours

Topographic surveying is critical for documenting the Earth's surface, focusing on capturing elevations, slopes, and natural and man-made features. It is essential in construction planning, water resource management, and land-use analysis. The primary outcome of such surveys is a topographic map, which uses contour lines to visually represent the shape and slope of the terrain, providing valuable insights into the landscape's characteristics.Contour lines are fundamental to understanding the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Emergent decadal predictability in Antarctic contribution to sea-level rise.

Nature·2026

Same author

New high-resolution subglacial bed topography and coastal bathymetry of the Antarctic and Greenland Ice Sheets.

Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences·2026

Same author

A community vision for next-generation bed mapping in Antarctica.

Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences·2026

Same author

Rapid retreat of Berry Glacier, West Antarctica, linked to seawater intrusions revealed by radar interferometry.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

Anisotropy reveals contact sliding and aging as a cause of post-seismic velocity changes.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

Increased sea-level contribution from northwestern Greenland for models that reproduce observations.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 17, 2026

Measuring the Structure, Composition, and Change of Underwater Environments with Large-area Imaging

Measuring the Structure, Composition, and Change of Underwater Environments with Large-area Imaging

Published on: April 18, 2025

Complex mesoscale landscapes beneath Antarctica mapped from space.

Helen Ockenden^1,2, Robert G Bingham², Daniel Goldberg²

¹L'Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble-Alpes, Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|January 15, 2026

Summary

This study maps Antarctica's hidden subglacial topography using ice flow physics and satellite data. It reveals detailed landforms beneath the ice sheet, improving our understanding of its history and response to climate change.

More Related Videos

Laser-Induced Fluorescence Emission L.I.F.E. as Novel Non-Invasive Tool for In-Situ Measurements of Biomarkers in Cryospheric Habitats

Laser-Induced Fluorescence Emission L.I.F.E. as Novel Non-Invasive Tool for In-Situ Measurements of Biomarkers in Cryospheric Habitats

Published on: October 26, 2019

Surface Mapping of Earth-like Exoplanets using Single Point Light Curves

Surface Mapping of Earth-like Exoplanets using Single Point Light Curves

Published on: May 10, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 17, 2026

Measuring the Structure, Composition, and Change of Underwater Environments with Large-area Imaging

Measuring the Structure, Composition, and Change of Underwater Environments with Large-area Imaging

Published on: April 18, 2025

Laser-Induced Fluorescence Emission L.I.F.E. as Novel Non-Invasive Tool for In-Situ Measurements of Biomarkers in Cryospheric Habitats

Laser-Induced Fluorescence Emission L.I.F.E. as Novel Non-Invasive Tool for In-Situ Measurements of Biomarkers in Cryospheric Habitats

Published on: October 26, 2019

Surface Mapping of Earth-like Exoplanets using Single Point Light Curves

Surface Mapping of Earth-like Exoplanets using Single Point Light Curves

Published on: May 10, 2020

Area of Science:

Geophysics
Glaciology
Remote Sensing

Background:

Antarctica's subglacial landscape is crucial for understanding ice sheet history and climate response.
Previous subglacial mapping relied on sparse geophysical data, leading to spatial biases.
Ice surface topography reflects underlying bedrock, offering a new mapping approach.

Purpose of the Study:

To create a continental-scale elevation map of Antarctica's subglacial topography.
To overcome limitations of traditional geophysical surveys for subglacial mapping.
To reveal mesoscale subglacial landforms and geomorphology.

Main Methods:

Applied ice flow physics to high-resolution satellite ice surface elevation maps.
Incorporated geophysical ice thickness observations.
Generated a continental-scale subglacial topography map.

Main Results:

Produced a novel, high-resolution map of Antarctica's subglacial topography.
Identified mesoscale (2-30 km) subglacial landforms.
Unveiled the spatial distribution of subglacial roughness and geomorphology.

Conclusions:

Satellite-derived ice surface topography is a transformative tool for subglacial mapping.
The new map enhances understanding of subglacial geomorphology and its influence on ice flow.
This work provides a foundation for future studies on ice-climate interactions.