Greenland Icebergs: WorldView Digital Elevation Model derived Melt Data, 2011-2016

Observations of iceberg location, surface elevation, surface area, submerged area, change in surface elevation over time, change in volume over time (i.e. meltwater flux), and area-averaged submarine melt rates were compiled for 637 icebergs discharged from seven large glaciers draining the Greenland Ice Sheet from 2011-2016. The data were extracted from 2 m-resolution digital elevation models that were constructed from stereo panchromatic WorldView satellite images. Iceberg surface area and surface elevation estimates were extracted from repeat digital elevation models and converted to estimates of ice volume change, then divided by the estimated submerged iceberg area to yield area-averaged melt rates. The purpose of the iceberg meltwater flux and melt rate data was to determine whether remote sensing methods could be used to quantify spatial and temporal variations in iceberg melt rates as a potential means to infer changes in ocean forcing in iceberg-congested fjords.