China’s First Airborne Glacier Survey Takes Flight in Xizang
After days of wind and snow, clear skies over the Renlongba Glacier in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region provided the perfect backdrop for a groundbreaking mission. On Thursday, a low-altitude helicopter took off, marking the start of China’s first airborne survey of marine glaciers.
Launched earlier this week, the survey aims to investigate the development patterns and melting changes of marine glaciers, providing crucial data for natural resource management. Marine glaciers are natural ice bodies that have existed for many years in polar or high mountain regions and can move along the ground.
The Renlongba Glacier in Qamdo City serves as the first survey point for this ambitious project. The helicopter, equipped with two rectangular aerial ice-penetrating radars mounted on either side of the fuselage, emits high-frequency electromagnetic waves to reveal the internal structures of the glacier. It also carries a homegrown airborne gravimeter capable of determining glacier thickness by detecting subtle density differences in the bedrock beneath the ice.
“Our gravimeter has achieved world-class precision while being only one-third the size of comparable foreign instruments,” said Xiong Shengqing, chief scientist at the Natural Resources Airborne Geophysical and Remote Sensing Center of China (AGRS).
Over the next two weeks, the helicopter will traverse other key glacier zones across southeastern Xizang, covering roughly 1,000 square kilometers. The full results of the mission are expected within three to four months.
In addition to the airborne survey, two Gaofen satellites have been deployed to scan and photograph the Renlongba Glacier. “By combining high-precision satellite imagery with terrain data, we’ve built a detailed 3D model of the glacier,” explained Wang Shanshan, a senior engineer at AGRS. “These 3D datasets help us study glacier movement mechanisms, run simulations, and even probe beneath the ice surface—an essential foundation for further research.”
This comprehensive approach, combining space, air, and ground methods, marks a first for China in marine glacier observation. Marine glaciers, also known as temperate or warm glaciers, have higher ice temperatures and distinct characteristics—they freeze and melt rapidly, and their movement patterns are quite evident.
Due to variable climates and complex topography, collecting data on marine glaciers has been extremely challenging. This airborne survey addresses these challenges by integrating multiple methods into a comprehensive monitoring system.
By exploring marine glaciers, scientists hope to better understand the processes behind global climate change, providing a scientific foundation for addressing its impacts.
