Glacial monitoring - how drones can help.

Monitoring glaciers is important because they are a major source of freshwater, and tracking their melting and movement helps us understand climate change impacts and predict future risks to water supply and ecosystems.

Drones can capture detailed, close-up images of glaciers, showing changes that satellites might miss. This helps scientists and students better understand how glaciers are melting and affecting freshwater supplies.

When teaching students about glaciers, it’s important to highlight how these massive rivers of ice shape landscapes, store freshwater, and act as indicators of climate change. Glaciers hold most of the world’s freshwater, and their melting directly impacts sea levels, ecosystems, and human water supplies. By learning about glaciers, kids gain a better understanding of Earth’s systems and the importance of protecting our environment.

Drones offer a unique advantage when compared to satellites for studying glaciers. While satellites provide large-scale images from space, drones can fly much closer and capture detailed, real-time data about glacier surfaces, cracks, and meltwater patterns. This makes the information more precise and accessible for students to see how glaciers change over time. It also reduces the risk and cost for researchers.

If you are teaching your class all about glaciers, check out some of these great resources:
https://geonadir.com/glacier-mapping-with-drones/
https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/elibrary/resource/34557/glaciers-and-climate-change
https://www.rgs.org/schools/resources-for-schools/glacial-environments
https://youtu.be/gzY-aYRaaUA
https://www.antarcticglaciers.org/students-3/
https://isskolen.dk/wp/?page_id=7520
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwyEtluNaYg
https://edu.oggm.org/en/latest/glacier_basics.html
https://climatekids.nasa.gov/search/glacier/
https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/mini-lessonactivity/glacier-retreat