Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Annals of Glaciology

Publisher

International Glaciological Society

Publication Date

8-2009

Volume

50

Issue

51

Disciplines

Earth Sciences | Glaciology

Abstract

We conducted two-dimensional continuous multi-offset georadar surveys on Bench Glacier, south-central Alaska, USA, to measure the distribution of englacial water. We acquired data with a multi channel 25 MHz radar system using transmitter-receiver offsets ranging from 5 to 150 m. We towed the radar system at 5-10 kmh-1 with a snow machine with transmitter/receiver positions established by geodetic-grade kinematic deferentially corrected GPS (nominal 0.5 m trace spacing). For radar velocity analyses, we employed reflection tomography in the pre-stack depth-migrated domain to attain an estimated 2% velocity uncertainty when averaged over three to five wavelengths. We estimated water content from the velocity structure using the complex refractive index method equation and use a three-phase model (ice, water, air) that accounts for compression of air bubbles as a function of depth. Our analysis produced laterally continuous profiles of glacier water content over several kilometers. These profiles show a laterally variable, stratified velocity structure with a low-water-content (about 0-0.5%) shallow layer (about 20-30 m) underlain by high-water-content (1-2.5%) ice.

Keywords

Annals of Glaciology

DOI

10.3189/172756409789097540

Comments

Publisher: http://www.igsoc.org/

Rights

© 2009 International Glaciological Society

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