Investigation of Sub-Ice Bedrock Characteristics by Radio-Echo Sounding
Abstract Qualitative inspection of the results of the 1971/72 S.P.R.I.-N.S.F. Antarctic radio-echo sounding programme shows that it is possible to infer some characteristics of the lower face of the ice from the form of received echoes. We confirm the existence of lakes of liquid water beneath the e...
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Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1975
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000034286 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000034286 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0022143000034286 2024-03-03T08:37:28+00:00 Investigation of Sub-Ice Bedrock Characteristics by Radio-Echo Sounding Oswald, G. K. A. 1975 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000034286 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000034286 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) Journal of Glaciology volume 15, issue 73, page 75-87 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 Earth-Surface Processes journal-article 1975 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000034286 2024-02-08T08:36:15Z Abstract Qualitative inspection of the results of the 1971/72 S.P.R.I.-N.S.F. Antarctic radio-echo sounding programme shows that it is possible to infer some characteristics of the lower face of the ice from the form of received echoes. We confirm the existence of lakes of liquid water beneath the east Antarctic ice by inspection of the top and bottom surface gradients of the ice, and suggest that basal melting occurs over a wide area in this region. Quantitative studies in Devon Island indicate that small-scale irregularities in the bedrock are characterized by slopes of about 1: 40, with some higher gradients present, possibly indicating the presence of morainal boulders. We deduce that a geological boundary was crossed between 25 and 40 km west of the base camp, the rock to the west of the boundary having lower permittivity, and higher surface slopes than that to the east. The question of the usefulness of the spatial fading of the echo in deducing surface characteristics is briefly discussed. We conclude that measurements of the fading are indeed useful, especially in the case of echoes with short “tails”. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Devon Island Journal of Glaciology Cambridge University Press Antarctic Devon Island ENVELOPE(-88.000,-88.000,75.252,75.252) Journal of Glaciology 15 73 75 87 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
Earth-Surface Processes |
spellingShingle |
Earth-Surface Processes Oswald, G. K. A. Investigation of Sub-Ice Bedrock Characteristics by Radio-Echo Sounding |
topic_facet |
Earth-Surface Processes |
description |
Abstract Qualitative inspection of the results of the 1971/72 S.P.R.I.-N.S.F. Antarctic radio-echo sounding programme shows that it is possible to infer some characteristics of the lower face of the ice from the form of received echoes. We confirm the existence of lakes of liquid water beneath the east Antarctic ice by inspection of the top and bottom surface gradients of the ice, and suggest that basal melting occurs over a wide area in this region. Quantitative studies in Devon Island indicate that small-scale irregularities in the bedrock are characterized by slopes of about 1: 40, with some higher gradients present, possibly indicating the presence of morainal boulders. We deduce that a geological boundary was crossed between 25 and 40 km west of the base camp, the rock to the west of the boundary having lower permittivity, and higher surface slopes than that to the east. The question of the usefulness of the spatial fading of the echo in deducing surface characteristics is briefly discussed. We conclude that measurements of the fading are indeed useful, especially in the case of echoes with short “tails”. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Oswald, G. K. A. |
author_facet |
Oswald, G. K. A. |
author_sort |
Oswald, G. K. A. |
title |
Investigation of Sub-Ice Bedrock Characteristics by Radio-Echo Sounding |
title_short |
Investigation of Sub-Ice Bedrock Characteristics by Radio-Echo Sounding |
title_full |
Investigation of Sub-Ice Bedrock Characteristics by Radio-Echo Sounding |
title_fullStr |
Investigation of Sub-Ice Bedrock Characteristics by Radio-Echo Sounding |
title_full_unstemmed |
Investigation of Sub-Ice Bedrock Characteristics by Radio-Echo Sounding |
title_sort |
investigation of sub-ice bedrock characteristics by radio-echo sounding |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
1975 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000034286 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000034286 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-88.000,-88.000,75.252,75.252) |
geographic |
Antarctic Devon Island |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Devon Island |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Devon Island Journal of Glaciology |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Devon Island Journal of Glaciology |
op_source |
Journal of Glaciology volume 15, issue 73, page 75-87 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000034286 |
container_title |
Journal of Glaciology |
container_volume |
15 |
container_issue |
73 |
container_start_page |
75 |
op_container_end_page |
87 |
_version_ |
1792499084468158464 |