EAGER PROPOSAL: IceTrendr: An Automated Visualization and Analysis Tool for Mapping Changes in Glacier Extent from Landsat

冰川是冰冻圈和极地地区的关键要素。遥感数据可以提供大范围和难以（如果不是不可能）进入的区域的信息。特别是，遥感工具有可能以一致的方式和通过可公开获得的数据集绘制全球冰川变化地图。拟议的项目旨在开发一个基于网络的系统，该系统将利用收集了30多年的遥感数据，通过计算机科学和冰川学专门知识的桥梁来估计冰川的性质和特征。该系统的用户将是冰川学或遥感专家，以及对通过遥感工具探索冰川变化感兴趣的学生或受过教育的公民。鉴于冰川对水资源管理的影响、对水文循环的影响以及对海平面上升的潜在贡献，该项目的成果将使社会受益，并将为冰川学家、气候科学家和教育工作者提供一个开放的工具。该项目将生产和测试一个基于web的原型系统，名为？IceTrendr吗?该项目将挖掘和利用陆地卫星专题制图器卫星图像档案（1984年至今）来绘制和分析不断变化的北极冰川。拟议的IceTrendr是一个自动的大数据挖掘工具集，用于捕获、标记和绘制冰川变化图，用于气候科学、水文学和地球科学教育。为了应对各种挑战，将进行一项试点研究，考察北美的五个冰川：阿拉斯加的狼獾冰川、古尔卡纳冰川和白令冰川；南喀斯喀特冰川，华盛顿州；以及加拿大阿克塞尔海伯格岛上的白色冰川。产品将包括1984-2012年冰川范围和终点位置的地图，冰川变化特征，时间序列动画，以及解释特定类型冰川变化（缓慢融化，突然融化，汹涌等）的网络界面。pi将与初中和高中教师合作，这些教师将探索和测试IceTrendr系统，他们也将使用IceTrendr为他们的课堂和其他地方开发基于计算机的地球科学课程。

Glaciers represent key elements of the cryosphere and of the polar regions. Remote sensing data can provide information over large areas and in those regions where it is difficult (if not impossible) to access. In particular, remote sensing tools are potentially capable of map glacier changes worldwide in a consistent way and through publicly available data sets. The proposed project aims at developing a web-based system in which remote sensing data collected for more than 30 years will be used to estimate properties and characteristics of glaciers through the bridging of computer science and glaciology expertise. Users of the system will be either experts in glaciology or remote sensing, and students or educated citizens interested in exploring glacier changes through remote sensing tools. The outcomes of the project will benefit society in view of the impact of glaciers on water reources management, their impact on the hydrological cycle and the potential contribution to sea level rise and will provide an open tool for glaciologists, climate scientists, and educators. The project will produce and test a prototype web-based system called ?IceTrendr? that would mine and exploit the Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite image archive (1984-present) to map and analyze changing Arctic glaciers. The proposed IceTrendr is an automated Big Data mining toolset for Landsat imagery that captures, labels, and maps glacier change for use in climate science, hydrology, and Earth science education. A pilot study will be conducted to address the various challenges, looking at five glaciers in North America: Wolverine, Gulkana, and Bering Glaciers in Alaska; South Cascade Glacier, Washington; and White Glacier on Axel Heiberg Island, Canada. Products will include maps of glacier extent and terminus position from 1984-2012, glacier change characteristics, time series animations, and a web interface for interpreting specific types of glacier change (slow melt, abrupt melt, surging, etc.). The PIs will work in partnership with middle and high school teachers who will explore and test the IceTrendr system and who will also use IceTrendr to develop computer-based Earth science lessons for their classrooms and beyond.