Publications of the MOCCA Team

A summary of the most recent publications related to research carried out within the doctoral progamme.

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  28JAN 2026

  Publications

  Digital Elevation Models and Orthomosaics of 1989 aerial imagery of the Western Antarctic Peninsula and surrounding islands between 66–68° S

  We present a unique, timestamped, high-resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and orthomosaic dataset, derived from aerial imagery that covers about 12 000 km2 area on the western Antarctic Peninsula and surrounding islands between 66–68° S. We used a film-based aerial image archive from 1989 acquired by the Institut für Angewandte Geodäsie (IfAG), which is kept in the Archive […]We present a unique, timestamped, high-resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and orthomosaic dataset, derived from aerial imagery that covers about 12 000 km2 area on the western Antarctic Peninsula and surrounding islands between 66–68° S. We used a film-based aerial image archive from 1989 acquired by the Institut für Angewandte Geodäsie (IfAG), which is kept in the Archive […]

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• 

  04NOV 2025

  Publications

  IceAnatomy: a benchmark dataset and methodology for automatic ice boundary extraction from radio-echo sounding data

  Understanding how glaciers are changing is key to predicting future sea-level rise and the impacts of climate change. To do this, we need to know how thick the ice is and what the ground looks like underneath. Traditionally, this information comes from radar measurements that show cross-sections of glaciers but analyzing these images by hand […]Understanding how glaciers are changing is key to predicting future sea-level rise and the impacts of climate change. To do this, we need to know how thick the ice is and what the ground looks like underneath. Traditionally, this information comes from radar measurements that show cross-sections of glaciers but analyzing these images by hand […]

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• 

  21OCT 2025

  Publications

  A Kalman filter-based framework for assimilating remote sensing observations into a surface mass balance model

  This study introduces a custom implementation of the Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) for calibrating a three-dimensional glacier evolution model. The EnKF can assimilate observations as they become available and provides uncertainty measures for the initial state after calibration. We calibrate an elevation-dependent surface mass balance (SMB) model using elevation change observations and test the EnKF’s […]This study introduces a custom implementation of the Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) for calibrating a three-dimensional glacier evolution model. The EnKF can assimilate observations as they become available and provides uncertainty measures for the initial state after calibration. We calibrate an elevation-dependent surface mass balance (SMB) model using elevation change observations and test the EnKF’s […]

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• 

  12AUG 2025

  Allgemein

  The State and Fate of Glaciar Perito Moreno

  The Perito Moreno Glacier, a 30 km long outlet of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field in Argentina, has been considered unusually stable among Patagonian glaciers, exhibiting almost no retreat between 2000 and 2019. In this paper we present our findings of an acceleration in ice loss since 2019, with retreat exceeding 800 m in some […]The Perito Moreno Glacier, a 30 km long outlet of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field in Argentina, has been considered unusually stable among Patagonian glaciers, exhibiting almost no retreat between 2000 and 2019. In this paper we present our findings of an acceleration in ice loss since 2019, with retreat exceeding 800 m in some […]

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• 

  10AUG 2025

  Allgemein

  From Sea to Summit: Investigating the Explicit Role of SST Increase for Regional and High-Altitude Climates in New Zealand

  The oceans around New Zealand are warming much faster than the global average, affecting the region’s climate. Mountain regions like the Southern Alps are particularly sensitive, as small shifts in temperature and precipitation strongly influence glaciers, ecosystems, and water supply. To isolate the role of ocean warming, this study uses an atmospheric model to simulate […]The oceans around New Zealand are warming much faster than the global average, affecting the region’s climate. Mountain regions like the Southern Alps are particularly sensitive, as small shifts in temperature and precipitation strongly influence glaciers, ecosystems, and water supply. To isolate the role of ocean warming, this study uses an atmospheric model to simulate […]

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• 

  06JUN 2025

  Allgemein

  Climate’s firm grip on glacier ablation in the Cordillera Darwin Icefield, Tierra del Fuego

  The Cordillera Darwin Icefield (CDI) in Tierra del Fuego is one of the largest temperate ice bodies in the Southern Hemisphere. In this study, we simulate the climatic energy and mass balance of its glaciers (2000–2023), which are sensitive indicators of climatic changes in the Southern Hemisphere’s higher mid-latitudes. Year-round westerly winds cause strong climatic […]The Cordillera Darwin Icefield (CDI) in Tierra del Fuego is one of the largest temperate ice bodies in the Southern Hemisphere. In this study, we simulate the climatic energy and mass balance of its glaciers (2000–2023), which are sensitive indicators of climatic changes in the Southern Hemisphere’s higher mid-latitudes. Year-round westerly winds cause strong climatic […]

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• 

  17MAR 2025

  Publications

  Glaciers are melting rapidly – new ESA study demonstrates dramatic developments

  The glaciers in the world’s high mountain regions are important freshwater reservoirs, providing resources for drinking water, irrigation and hydropower. However, as a result of climate change, they are melting dramatically and causing sea levels to rise. This has been confirmed by a new international study, in which three researchers from the Institute of Geography […]The glaciers in the world’s high mountain regions are important freshwater reservoirs, providing resources for drinking water, irrigation and hydropower. However, as a result of climate change, they are melting dramatically and causing sea levels to rise. This has been confirmed by a new international study, in which three researchers from the Institute of Geography […]

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• 

  21JAN 2025

  Publications

  New Publication out now revealing how interactions of glacier, permafrost, and hydrogeology trigger massive rock slope failures situated in the cryosphere

  Do you wonder what mechanism caused the massive rock avalanche at Piz Scerscen (Bernina, CH) in spring 2024 (link to DAV-report)? Read the paper: >here<. Felix Pfluger (TUM, funded by M³OCCA) and colleagues investigated glacier changes, conducted fieldwork on permafrost at 3200 m asl, rock mechanical laboratory studies (Joseph Steinhauser as part of his Bachelor […]Do you wonder what mechanism caused the massive rock avalanche at Piz Scerscen (Bernina, CH) in spring 2024 (link to DAV-report)? Read the paper: >here<. Felix Pfluger (TUM, funded by M³OCCA) and colleagues investigated glacier changes, conducted fieldwork on permafrost at 3200 m asl, rock mechanical laboratory studies (Joseph Steinhauser as part of his Bachelor […]

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• 

  09OCT 2024

  Publications

  Design and Verification of a Versatile and Lightweight Radar Platform for High-Resolution Imaging of Glacial Subsurface Structures

  Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is an effective tool in cryosphere and climate research, as it can provide detailed, non-invasive insights into ice thickness, internal structures, and subglacial conditions. This technology uncovers critical data on glacier dynamics and climate change impacts, enhancing our understanding of past, present, and future environmental shifts. In this contribution, the design […]Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is an effective tool in cryosphere and climate research, as it can provide detailed, non-invasive insights into ice thickness, internal structures, and subglacial conditions. This technology uncovers critical data on glacier dynamics and climate change impacts, enhancing our understanding of past, present, and future environmental shifts. In this contribution, the design […]

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• 

  23JUL 2024

  Publications

  A new, high-resolution atmospheric dataset for southern New Zealand, 2005–2020

  The regional climate of New Zealand’s South Island is shaped by the interaction of the Southern Hemisphere westerlies with the complex orography of the Southern Alps. Due to its isolated geographical setting in the south-west Pacific, the influence of the surrounding oceans on the atmospheric circulation is strong. Therefore, variations in sea surface temperature (SST) […]The regional climate of New Zealand’s South Island is shaped by the interaction of the Southern Hemisphere westerlies with the complex orography of the Southern Alps. Due to its isolated geographical setting in the south-west Pacific, the influence of the surrounding oceans on the atmospheric circulation is strong. Therefore, variations in sea surface temperature (SST) […]

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• 

  23JUL 2024

  Publications

  Out-of-the-box calving-front detection method using deep learning

  Glaciers across the globe react to the changing climate. Monitoring the transformation of glaciers is essential for projecting their contribution to global mean sea level rise. The delineation of glacier-calving fronts is an important part of the satellite-based monitoring process. This work presents a calving-front extraction method based on the deep learning framework nnU-Net, which […]Glaciers across the globe react to the changing climate. Monitoring the transformation of glaciers is essential for projecting their contribution to global mean sea level rise. The delineation of glacier-calving fronts is an important part of the satellite-based monitoring process. This work presents a calving-front extraction method based on the deep learning framework nnU-Net, which […]

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• 

  12JUN 2024

  Publications

  A Drifting and Blowing Snow Scheme in the Weather Research and Forecasting Model

  Transport of snow by the wind can have high impact on local glacier mass changes as it leads to non-uniform amounts of snow on the ground. In order to simulate and better understand this process we introduce a new modeling framework that is included into the widely used atmospheric ‘Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF)’ model. […]Transport of snow by the wind can have high impact on local glacier mass changes as it leads to non-uniform amounts of snow on the ground. In order to simulate and better understand this process we introduce a new modeling framework that is included into the widely used atmospheric ‘Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF)’ model. […]

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