Geodetic glacier mass balance and photogrammetry

Mountain glaciers, such as Fannaråkbreen situated in western Jotunheimen, Norway, make fine objects for climate studies as they respond quickly to changes in climate and provides an opportunity to look into climate history in areas that have not been or cannot be monitored with other appliances.This project aims to assess the current functioning of Fannaråkbreen by estimating volume and seasonal movement changes. Glacier surface changes throughout the hydrological year will be tracked using UAVs. Additionally, archival aerial imagery dating back to 1955 will be incorporated to reconstruct glacier mass balance over the past 70 years. This will provide valuable insight into the glacier's response to climate.

The fieldwork consisted of three 2-day trips to the glacier during which the data had been collected remotely using UAVs (drones). Due to great field assistance, I had a great time and came back with good data to work with each time.

Thus far, the University of Bergen has offered a great academic environment that included abundant opportunities for both my academic pursuits and professional development. The supervisors have been attentive to my wishes for my master's project, making necessary adjustments and providing support throughout its realization.

Also, in this department, people foster a strong sense of camaraderie, and there exists a relatively modest gap between students and professors. This facilitates open communication and readily available support for academic endeavors.

Bergen is a great place to do a master thesis in physical geography mostly due to interesting courses and great supervision. Furthermore, the abundance of diverse project topics provides ample choices, ensuring a fulfilling experience for anyone who wishes to study physical geography here.