Satellite shoreline mapping of ice-dammed lake evolution at Isunnguta Sermia, West Greenland, 1987-2024

We present here shorelines that were mapped from satellite images covering the ice-dammed lake evolution at Isunnguta Sermia, West Greenland from 1987 to 2024. Satellite imagery and ArcticDEM DSM strips were used to map shorelines of a ~3 km2 and ~100 m ice-dammed lake abutting the northern tongue of Isunnguata Sermia (western Greenland) to investigate its filling and drainage history. Mapping was carried out manually in QGIS v3.34 and Google Earth Engine Digitisation Tool (GEEDiT) v. 2.03. In total 322 lake shoreline dates were mapped between 1987 and 2024 revealing 12 fill-drain cycles with a periodicity of 1-3 years. This mapping formed part of the NERC-funded SLIDE (Subglacial Lakes at Isunnguata Sermia: Dynamics and Evolution) research project.

The SLIDE project is funded by the Natural Environmental Research Council Standard Grant NE/X000257/1. We acknowledge the support of Kangerlussuaq International Science Support and the local knowledge and guidance of Chris Sorensen.