Rock glacier composition and structure from radio wave speed analysis with dipping reflector correction
Abstract We assess the composition and geometry of four individual rock glaciers in Alaska, Wyoming and Colorado by measuring their radio wave speed and applying these results to ground-penetrating radar depth corrections and dielectric mixing models. Our method includes a correction for subsurface...
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jog.2022.90 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143022000909 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/jog.2022.90 2024-05-12T08:03:57+00:00 Rock glacier composition and structure from radio wave speed analysis with dipping reflector correction Meng, Tyler M. Petersen, Eric I. Holt, John W. National Aeronautics and Space Administration 2022 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jog.2022.90 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143022000909 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Journal of Glaciology volume 69, issue 275, page 639-657 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 Earth-Surface Processes journal-article 2022 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2022.90 2024-04-18T06:54:07Z Abstract We assess the composition and geometry of four individual rock glaciers in Alaska, Wyoming and Colorado by measuring their radio wave speed and applying these results to ground-penetrating radar depth corrections and dielectric mixing models. Our method includes a correction for subsurface reflector dip angle, which we show can lead to an incorrect determination of wave speeds using common midpoint configurations. By observing the radar properties of the rock glaciers and their supraglacial debris, we find that some of the sites exhibit nearly pure ice cores, and all of the sites indicate volumetric ice fractions >50%. These results have implications for terrestrial glaciology and hydrology because the present ice volume is connected to past ice accumulation and subsurface ice preservation, which may affect the future availability of alpine water resources. An understanding of the processes that govern rock glacier evolution over a wide range of latitudes and elevations will also contribute to the exploration of planetary surfaces such as Mars, which hosts a significant population of debris-covered glaciers. Our subsurface composition and geometry estimates will inform simulations of rock glacier formation and evolution to test hypothesized ice origin mechanisms along with the preservation of climate signals. Article in Journal/Newspaper glacier glaciers Journal of Glaciology Alaska Cambridge University Press Journal of Glaciology 1 19 |
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Cambridge University Press |
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English |
topic |
Earth-Surface Processes |
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Earth-Surface Processes Meng, Tyler M. Petersen, Eric I. Holt, John W. Rock glacier composition and structure from radio wave speed analysis with dipping reflector correction |
topic_facet |
Earth-Surface Processes |
description |
Abstract We assess the composition and geometry of four individual rock glaciers in Alaska, Wyoming and Colorado by measuring their radio wave speed and applying these results to ground-penetrating radar depth corrections and dielectric mixing models. Our method includes a correction for subsurface reflector dip angle, which we show can lead to an incorrect determination of wave speeds using common midpoint configurations. By observing the radar properties of the rock glaciers and their supraglacial debris, we find that some of the sites exhibit nearly pure ice cores, and all of the sites indicate volumetric ice fractions >50%. These results have implications for terrestrial glaciology and hydrology because the present ice volume is connected to past ice accumulation and subsurface ice preservation, which may affect the future availability of alpine water resources. An understanding of the processes that govern rock glacier evolution over a wide range of latitudes and elevations will also contribute to the exploration of planetary surfaces such as Mars, which hosts a significant population of debris-covered glaciers. Our subsurface composition and geometry estimates will inform simulations of rock glacier formation and evolution to test hypothesized ice origin mechanisms along with the preservation of climate signals. |
author2 |
National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Meng, Tyler M. Petersen, Eric I. Holt, John W. |
author_facet |
Meng, Tyler M. Petersen, Eric I. Holt, John W. |
author_sort |
Meng, Tyler M. |
title |
Rock glacier composition and structure from radio wave speed analysis with dipping reflector correction |
title_short |
Rock glacier composition and structure from radio wave speed analysis with dipping reflector correction |
title_full |
Rock glacier composition and structure from radio wave speed analysis with dipping reflector correction |
title_fullStr |
Rock glacier composition and structure from radio wave speed analysis with dipping reflector correction |
title_full_unstemmed |
Rock glacier composition and structure from radio wave speed analysis with dipping reflector correction |
title_sort |
rock glacier composition and structure from radio wave speed analysis with dipping reflector correction |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jog.2022.90 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143022000909 |
genre |
glacier glaciers Journal of Glaciology Alaska |
genre_facet |
glacier glaciers Journal of Glaciology Alaska |
op_source |
Journal of Glaciology volume 69, issue 275, page 639-657 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2022.90 |
container_title |
Journal of Glaciology |
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1 |
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19 |
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1798846078258249728 |