Glaciers in Aotearoa are rapidly melting due to our changing climate. Researchers from around the country have been monitoring and surveying key index glaciers since the late 1970s, taking photos from the air and using modern software to enhance their understanding of how much these frozen rivers lose and gain each year.
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The annual summer snowline survey sees these researchers board a small plane for eight hours to take images of the index glaciers which are later used for structure from motion photogrammetry to work out the mass balance of the key glaciers. Along with the snowline survey, scientists hike or fly in to Brewster Glacier at the start and end of each snow season to physically measure changes in the glacier's depth, using probes and snow stakes.
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The combined research indicates that more than 13 trillion litres of water has been lost from our glaciers since 1978. This is equivalent to the household water needs of all New Zealanders during that time.
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Videography: Rebekah Parsons-King
Producers: Andrew Lorrey, Rebekah Parsons-King and Rory Newsam
Editor: Rebekah Parsons-King
Additional filming: Lana Young, Stuart Mackay and Pete Spencer-Bower
Animations: Rebekah Parsons-King and Stuart Mackay
4 мар 2024
