Application to glacier observation of high-precision three-dimensional position measurement using cameras

Precise and regular observation of glacial movement is critical in order to determine the influence of global warming on glaciers. There is thought to be a close relationship between the speed at which glaciers move and global warming. Thus, there have been precise, detailed observations of the movement of the Perito Moreno glacier in Patagonia, Argentina over the past five years. Global Positioning System (GPS) and satellite images are the most commonly used tools to monitor glacial movement. Yet, because of the enormity of the Perito Moreno glacier, these tools are not optimally precise. Our system to measure the movement of the Perito Moreno glacier, however, is based on the principle of stereo measurement using cameras and can produce much more accurate results. This paper discusses experiments that verify the precision of the positional measurement of the Perito Moreno glacier in 2010. The results of the glacial observation are shown.