Velocity of radio waves in glaciers as an indicator of their hydrothermal state, structure and regime

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Macheret, Yu. Ya., Moskalevsky, M. Yu., Vasilenko, E.V.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1993
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Svalbard; Hansbreen; Fridtjovbreen; glacier; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000016038; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000016038

Abstract The results of measurements of radio-wave velocities (RWV) by wide-angle reflection (WAR) methods in the temperate Abramov Glacier in the Alai Mountain Ridge and the “two-layered” sub-polar Fridtjovbreen and Hansbreen on Svalbard using a low-frequency (2–13 MHz) radar are considered and discussed. The experimental data obtained and the data from the literature show that the values of RWV could be a good indicator of the hydrothermal state of glaciers. As such, these data enable the identification of cold, temperate and transitional (two-layered) glaciers, and can be used for estimation of the water content in glaciers and changes in the hydrothermal state.