Towards an estimation of sub-sea-ice platelet-layer volume with multi-frequency electromagnetic induction sounding
Ice-platelet clusters modify the heat and mass balance of sea ice near Antarctic ice shelves and provide a unique habitat for ice-associated organisms. The amount and distribution of these ice crystals below the solid sea ice provide insight into melt rates and circulation regimes in the ice-shelf c...
| Published in: | Annals of Glaciology |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | unknown |
| Published: |
INT GLACIOL SOC
2015
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/36936/ https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/36936/1/Annals_Hunkeler.pdf https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.44728 https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.44728.d001 |
| Summary: | Ice-platelet clusters modify the heat and mass balance of sea ice near Antarctic ice shelves and provide a unique habitat for ice-associated organisms. The amount and distribution of these ice crystals below the solid sea ice provide insight into melt rates and circulation regimes in the ice-shelf cavities, which are difficult to observe directly. However, little is known about the circum-Antarctic volume of the sub-sea-ice platelet layer, because observations have mostly been limited to point measurements. In this study, we present a new application of multi-frequency electromagnetic (EM) induction sounding to quantify platelet-layer properties. Combining in situ data with the theoretical response yields a bulk platelet-layer conductivity of 1154 +/- 271 mSm–1 and ice-volume fractions of 0.29–0.43. Calibration routines and uncertainties are discussed in detail to facilitate future studies. Our results suggest that multi-frequency EM induction sounding is a promising method to efficiently map platelet-layer volume on a larger scale than has previously been feasible. |
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