Ice thickness from radio-echo sounding (RES) and radar attenuation from numerical modelling for Recovery Glacier, Antarctica ...

• Main Authors: Humbert, Angelika, Steinhage, Daniel, Helm, Veit, Beyer, Sebastian, Kleiner, Thomas
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2018
• Subjects: Glaciology @ AWI AWI_Glac; Antarc*; Antarctic; Antarctica; Ice Sheet; Recovery Glacier
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.894294; https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.894294

Recovery Glacier reaches far into the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Recent projections point out that its dynamic behaviour has a considerable impact on future Antarctic ice loss (Golledge et al. 2017). Subglacial lakes are thought to play a major role in the initiation of the rapid ice flow (Bell et al. 2007). Satellite altimetry observations have even suggested several actively filling and draining subglacial lakes beneath the main trunk (Smith et al. 2009). We present new data of the geometry of this glacier and investigate its basal properties employing radio-echo sounding. Using ice-sheet modelling, we were able to constrain estimates of radar absorption in the ice, but uncertainties remain large. The magnitude of the basal reflection coefficient is thus still poorly known. However, its spatial variability, in conjunction with additional indicators, can be used to infer the presence of subglacial water. We find no clear evidence of water at most of the previously proposed lake sites. Especially locations ... : Supplement to: Humbert, Angelika; Steinhage, Daniel; Helm, Veit; Beyer, Sebastian; Kleiner, Thomas (2018): Missing Evidence of Widespread Subglacial Lakes at Recovery Glacier, Antarctica. Journal of Geophysical Research-Earth Surface, 123(11), 2802-2826 ...