Glacier motion

ESA’s Harmony mission will measure many different aspects of the cryosphere such as changes in the volume of ice held in glaciers, changes to the margins of ice sheet and changes to ice-rich permafrost, as well as observations of surface motion of these ice bodies. The unique interferometric and 3D surface change mapping capabilities of Harmony provide high-precision measurements of glacier mass balance and an improved understanding of subglacial processes occurring thousands of metres below the ice surface.

Sea-level rise is a serious consequence of atmospheric warming, one that affects millions of people around the world. Rapid change in glacier mass is one of the largest uncertainties when it comes to modelling future sea-level rise. Harmony’s measurements of glacier and ice-sheet movement will help to better quantify how glaciers and ice sheets are adding to sea level.