Using satellite imagery to assess the glacier retreat in King George Island, Antarctica

• DOI: 10.4995/raet.2025.22317
• Publication Date: 2025-01-15T11:03:19Z
• Authors: Ibeth Rojas-Macedo; Cinthya Bello; Wilson Suarez; Edwin Loarte; Fiorella Vega-Jacome; Maria G. Bustaman...; Pedro M. Tapia
• Keywords: George (robot); Tidewater glacier cycle

In recent decades, remote sensing has become a powerful tool for continuously monitoring glacier dynamics in areas, enabling the identification of significant spatiotemporal changes due to its capacity provide multitemporal information at regional and global scales. this study, Landsat satellite images (1989–2020) were used quantify retreat ice cap King George Island (KGI), located Antarctic Peninsula, evaluate teleconnections El Niño – Southern Oscillation - ENSO (ONI SOI indices) with climaticvariables (temperature precipitation) region. Our findings reveal 10% loss coverage over last 31 years, slower observed since 2008. Glaciers smaller areas marine terminating most affected. Of 73 glaciers on KGI, 42% had continental terminating, 21% 37% mixed (continental marine). total area lost, 35% corresponds while 16% terminating. Furthermore, climatic variables exhibited heterogeneous responses during events, correlation between mean temperature ONI annual level austral spring, which may be influencing study some extent.