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Abstract. The Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA) is thefirst continental-scale digital elevation model (DEM) at a resolution ofless than 10 m. REMA is created from stereophotogrammetry with submeterresolution optical, commercial satellite imagery. The higher spatial andradiometric resolutions of this imagery enable high-quality surfaceextraction over the low-contrast ice sheet surface. The DEMs are registeredto satellite radar and laser altimetry and are mosaicked to provide acontinuous surface covering nearly 95 % the entire continent. The mosaicincludes an error estimate and a time stamp, enabling change measurement.Typical elevation errors are less than 1 m, as validated by thecomparison to airborne laser altimetry. REMA provides a powerful newresource for Antarctic science and provides a proof of concept forgenerating accurate high-resolution repeat topography at continentalscales.

The retreat of glaciers in response to global warming has the potential to trigger landslides in glaciated regions around the globe. Landslides that enter fjords or lakes can cause tsunamis, which endanger people and infrastructure far from the landslide itself. Here we document the ongoing movement of an unstable slope (total volume of 455 × 10⁶m³) in Barry Arm, a fjord in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The slope moved rapidly between 2010 and 2017, yielding a horizontal displacement of 120 m, which is highly correlated with the rapid retreat and thinning of Barry Glacier. Should the entire unstable slope collapse at once, preliminary tsunami modeling suggests a maximum runup of 300 m near the landslide, which may have devastating impacts on local communities. Our findings highlight the need for interdisciplinary studies of recently deglaciated fjords to refine our understanding of the impact of climate change on landslides and tsunamis.