GLIMS and New Zealand

[jkargel at usgs.gov]

Dear Matthieu,

In response to your inquiries (below):

1. I believe that there already is a New Zealand glacier in the
early-imaging plans, if I recall correctly, but since it is now northern
summer I doubt that the New Zealand scene will be acquired this summer.  We
are disappointed that the ramp-up of ASTER observations is dragging out
longer than expected, but we do expect to see a flood of northern
hemisphere glacier scenes starting in late June or early July, and we
expect a few early scenes within weeks or earlier (I hope!).   Anyway, it
is too late at this point to schedule new "early observation" scenes.
After ASTER becomes fully operational, it will be possible to schedule
additional scenes on a more timely basis, but ASTER is not yet in fully
operational status.  From everything I hear, all is proceeding well, but it
seems more slowly than we all had hoped.

2. About software-- I am feeling rather guilty about not having yet
distributed software to our collaborators.  We presently have functional
beta versions  of: (a) a digital terrain modeling tool, (b) a filter to
eliminate small, isolated  snow patches, (c) a semi-automated algorithm to
map the edges of debris-covered glaciers using the second derivative of
topo data (change of slope), and (d) basic multispectral classifications
tools.  I am forwarding your inquiry and my response to others who are in
the software development area, and to the project PI, who can make the
decision whether to make an urgent push to deliver beta versions, or
whether to wait until we have "cleaned up" and tested the tools on actual
ASTER images of glaciers.  So far we do not have a single ASTER glacier
scene, other than the featureless core of Greenland.  But our assurances
are still that free analytical tools will be available to our
collaborators; we are far behind our intended delivery schedule.  I also
appreciate your inquiry about this, as it might speed delivery of beta
version tools that will be useful.

3. Believe it or not, the issue of special notification that GLIMS  scenes
still is not settled; this issue is the subject of a current proposal that
may start funding within weeks, or maybe not until after October 1.  There
is a means to obtain images that is in place.  It is the EOS Data Gateway,
which recently underwent a successful test.  I am not sure how well it will
work in practice, but we can always hope it will work.  (It had better!)
This is a web-based data delivery service.
http://poseidon.jpl.nasa.gov/~imswww/pub/imswelcome/   You may wish to
register and try it out on Landsat images, which I believe can be ordered
through the gateway if I recall correctly.

I hope that this helps, even if the answers are not all as you had hoped
for.

Sincerely,

Jeff K


                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                          


                                                                                                                        
                    matthieu                                                                                            
                    dangeon               To:     jkargel at flagmail.wr.usgs.gov                                          
                    <mpd at pequod.ot        cc:                                                                           
                    ago.ac.nz>            Subject:     GLIMS and New Zealand                                            
                                                                                                                        
                    05/09/00 09:55                                                                                      
                    PM                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        



Dear Jeff,

I am currentely working for Blair B. Fitzharris, RC for GLIMS in
New-Zealand on this project. I have some related questions.

1/ Shall I specify a location for a possible early ASTER image ?
(ie. 43.2819 South 170.1329 East - Franz Josef Glacier)
2/ What's about the set of software the GLIMS project was to provide to
its members ? Particulary, will ASTER files import tools be available for
ERDAS ?
3/ What is the procedure to get the images when they will finally be
available ? Is their a hope to get images before september ?

Waiting for an early reply,
MD.

+----------------------+----------------------------------------------------+

 Matthieu Dangeon           email:   mpd at geography.otago.ac.nz
 Research Student                  phone:   +64-3-479-8788
 Dept. Geography            fax:     +64-3-479-9037
 Otago University           postal:  Box 56, Dunedin
 Te Whare Wananga o Otago   AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND
+----------------------+----------------------------------------------------+