Snow-accumulation studies in Antarctica with ground-penetrating radar using 50,100 and 800 MHz antenna frequencies

TY - JOUR

T1 - Snow-accumulation studies in Antarctica with ground-penetrating radar using 50,100 and 800 MHz antenna frequencies

AU - Sinisalo, A

AU - Grinsted, Aslak

AU - Moore, J C

AU - Kärkäs, E

AU - Petterson, R

N1 - Paper id:: 10.3189/172756403781815825

PY - 2003

Y1 - 2003

N2 - Snow radar profiles were measured in Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica, in the vicinity of the Finnish research station Aboa during austral summer 1999/2000. The aim was to study the annual layering in the upper 50 m of the snowpack and to compare the results obtained by three radar antenna frequencies (50,100 and 800 MHz). Intercomparison of the radar profiles measured by the three frequencies shows that some individual internal layers are visible with different antennas. Sparse accumulation-rate data from stake measurements and snow pits are compared with layer depths. The comparison reveals a great deal of scatter due to the large interannual variability in accumulation patterns. Using the radar layers as isochrones together with a model of depth-density-radarwave velocity allows the individual accumulation data to be integrated, and a better estimate of accumulation patterns is obtained. Using the radar layering seems to be a much better method of estimating accumulation rate in this region than using a short series of stake measurements, even in the absence of deep ice cores to directly date the radar layering.

AB - Snow radar profiles were measured in Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica, in the vicinity of the Finnish research station Aboa during austral summer 1999/2000. The aim was to study the annual layering in the upper 50 m of the snowpack and to compare the results obtained by three radar antenna frequencies (50,100 and 800 MHz). Intercomparison of the radar profiles measured by the three frequencies shows that some individual internal layers are visible with different antennas. Sparse accumulation-rate data from stake measurements and snow pits are compared with layer depths. The comparison reveals a great deal of scatter due to the large interannual variability in accumulation patterns. Using the radar layers as isochrones together with a model of depth-density-radarwave velocity allows the individual accumulation data to be integrated, and a better estimate of accumulation patterns is obtained. Using the radar layering seems to be a much better method of estimating accumulation rate in this region than using a short series of stake measurements, even in the absence of deep ice cores to directly date the radar layering.

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0260-3055

VL - 37

SP - 194

EP - 198

JO - Annals of Glaciology

JF - Annals of Glaciology

IS - 1

ER -