ETH tests radar drone to track glacier movement

Researchers at ETH Zurich are testing a radar-equipped drone to measure glacier movement and improve warnings of Alpine hazards, SRF reports. The first test flights took place over the Oigschtchummun Glacier in the Lötschental valley.

The drone carries radar that scans the terrain using electromagnetic waves. By measuring the glacier again after 20 minutes, researchers can detect even small changes in its position, said Felix Seidel, managing director of Swiss GeoLab, an ETH research centre.

Radar has an advantage over the lasers normally used to detect rock movement: it can take measurements through clouds, Seidel said. The test flights were promising, and researchers chose the glacier because it is moving and is already under regular monitoring. This allows them to compare the drone’s readings with existing data.

Swiss GeoLab also uses satellite monitoring to identify places where closer observation may be needed. Satellites can regularly cover large areas, but cannot show detail on steep slopes, Seidel said. Drones could then survey a rock face or valley flank, and potentially place sensors to track movement continuously.

The researchers plan to use artificial intelligence to prepare the data for public authorities, so it can support decisions. In the coming months, they intend to send more drones to glaciers and scree slopes. Swiss GeoLab aims to become a national centre for Earth observation, combining data from space, the air and the ground.