What question or problem were you trying to address, and why is it important?
I have used QGreenland for several different projects, but most recently in the context of a project assessing the role of melange in front of marine terminating glaciers in modulating calving behaviour. The literature has a lot of conflicting ideas about melange, with some studies suggesting it may play a controlling role in buttressing some large outlet glaciers.
How did you use QGreenland in your work?
Import of satellite pictures to determine where GNSS marker buoys should be placed and to produce maps that help navigation in the field.
Import of plotted measurements and satellite derived datasets (ArcticDEM, ESA CCI ice velocity from Sentinel 1, ESA CCI SEC data) for comparison over a wider region as well as with built in datasets in QGreenland.
What did QGreenland enable you to do that you couldn’t do before?
Easily compare wide area and wide range of data in the region. Simplify the selection of field sites and up to date production of field navigation.
What would you tell someone considering using QGreenland?
It's a really useful tool and very helpful for geospatial projects in a range of disciplines in Greenland.
About the contributor
Ruth Mottram is the Chief Scientific Advisor with the Danish Meteorological Institute.
A case study by Ruth Mottram
Use type(s): Research – publication visual; Resarch – adding data; Research – presentation visual; Research – exploration of field area; Teaching; Field planning; In-field awareness; Data exploration; Finding out what data exists in an area; Team data coordination; Outreach; For fun! | Discipline(s): Polar climate science; Glaciology
Who are you and what do you do?
I work as a regional climate modelling scientist at the intersection of ice sheet, atmosphere, and ocean in Greenland and Antarctica. We are refining the inclusion of the cryosphere in very high-resolution regional climate models with process studies using satellite and in-situ data with the aim to ultimately improve sea level rise projections.
How did you use QGreenland?
I use QGreenland to plan and execute fieldwork in Greenland, for example, by planning where I lay out sensor placements and by importing the latest satellite imagery to assess sea ice state. I also use QGreenland to visualize datasets, both satellite and from field observations, to see how measurements fit in the wider context.