A wireless subglacial probe for deep ice applications

We present the design and first results from two experiments using a wireless subglacial sensor system (WiSe) that is able to transmit data through 2500 m thick ice. Energy consumption of the probes is minimized, enabling the transmission of data for at least 10 years. In July 2010 the first prototy...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Glaciology
Main Authors: Smeets, C.J.P.P., Boot, W., Hubbard, A., Pettersson, R., Wilhelms, Frank, Van Den Broeke, M.R., Van De Wal, R.S.W.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: International Glaciological Society 2012
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Online Access:https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/33637/
https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/33637/1/s3.pdf
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/igsoc/jog/2012/00000058/00000211/art00003?token=005a192d1432db8ed437a63736a6f7c4741217a766a5f5c3a7b6f644a467c79675d7c4e724770ad15d036b54f2
https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.42011
https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.42011.d001
Description
Summary:We present the design and first results from two experiments using a wireless subglacial sensor system (WiSe) that is able to transmit data through 2500 m thick ice. Energy consumption of the probes is minimized, enabling the transmission of data for at least 10 years. In July 2010 the first prototype of the system was used to measure subglacial pressure at the base and a temperature profile consisting of 23 probes in two 600 m deep holes at Russell Glacier, a land-terminating part of the West Greenland ice sheet near Kangerlussuaq. The time series of subglacial pressure show very good agreement between data from the WiSe system and the wired reference system. The wireless-measured temperature data were validated by comparison with the theoretical decrease of melting point with water pressure inside the water-filled hole directly after installation. To test the depth range of the WiSe system a second experiment using three different probe types and two different surface antennas was performed inside the 2537 m deep hole at NEEM. It is demonstrated that, with the proper combination of transmission power and surface antenna type, the WiSe system transmits data through 2500 m thick ice.