Projects
In our work, we contribute to and manage various research projects.
2026-2027
HRMYCALVAL
HARMONY Validation Concept Consolidation and Verification Methodologies (HRMYCALVAL) focuses on consolidating the validation concept and defining verification methodologies for Harmony’s
scientific data products. Harmony, as ESA’s 10th Earth Explorer mission, introduces new observation
capabilities to address critical scientific challenges in ocean dynamics, cryosphere, and solid Earth. Harmony’s mission objectives require high-precision measurements of small-scale processes across
ocean, ice, and land domains. However, the complexity of the mission—multi-satellite SAR configurations combined with thermal infrared observations—presents unique challenges for product validation. DTU is responsible for the land ice thematic.
Contact: Kristina Belinska, krbel@dtu.dk, and Stine K. Rose, stine@dtu.dk
2022-2025
EO4GRHO
The purpose of EO4GRHO (A multi-sensor synthesis for the spatiotemporal quantification of near-surface density across the Greenland Ice Sheet) is to produce a unique observation-based assessment of Greenland Ice Sheet near-surface densities and how they have evolved over the last decade. Conventionally derived using models, near-surface densities are a critical parameter required to accurately quantify and project ice sheet mass balance. This project combines active radar altimetry (ESA CryoSat-2, ISRO/CNES SARAL) with passive microwave radiometry (ESA SMOS) measurements and validates satellite results with in situ density measurements.
Funded under the ESA Living Planet Fellowship Scheme
Contact: Kirk M. Scanlan, kimis@dtu.dk
2026-2028
Investigating Climate-Driven Changes in the Tidal Response of Ice Shelves and Ice Tongues
Ice shelves and ice tongues are floating extensions of marine-terminating glaciers that regulate ice discharge into the ocean by providing buttressing upstream ice flow. Recent satellite observations have shown that grounding zones are highly dynamic, with tides causing grounding lines to migrate over kilometer scales on sub-daily timescales. These tidal motions promote seawater intrusion, enhance basal melting, and weaken floating ice through changes in stress and deformation, increasing susceptibility to thinning, fracturing, and calving. Because iceberg calving accounts for a major fraction of ice mass loss to the ocean, understanding how tides affect ice shelf and ice tongue stability is critical for improving future sea-level rise projections. In this project, we will use state-of-the-art satellite altimetry to improve our understanding of the processes governing tidal weakening and structural stability of floating glacier ice in a warming climate.
This project serves as the foundation for a PhD project.
Contact: Rasmus Lørup Arildsen, ralor@dtu.dk, or Louise S. Sørensen, slss@dtu.dk
2022-2025
Leveraging Mars for Earth climate change projections
For decades, most of the advances in radar altimetry over ice sheets have been motivated by making more precise and more accurate measurements of surface elevation change. These are fundamental measurements that clearly show how anthropogenic climate change is altering Earth’s polar regions. At the same time though, advances in the radar remote sensing of Mars have shown how surface properties can be derived from the strength of reflected surface echoes. The purpose of this project is to adapt techniques developed at Mars to the remote sensing of the Greenland Ice Sheet to directly recover ice sheet surface properties such as density and surface roughness.
Funded under the Villum Experiment Programme
Contact: Kirk M. Scanlan, kimis@dtu.dk
