Spatial characterization of near-surface structure and meltwater runoff conditions across the Devon Ice Cap from dual-frequency radar reflectivity
Melting and refreezing processes in the firn of the Devon Ice Cap control meltwater infiltration and runoff across the ice cap, but their full spatial extent and effect on near-surface structure is difficult to measure with surface-based traverses or existing satellite remote sensing. Here, we deriv...
Published in: | The Cryosphere |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2023
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1839-2023 https://doaj.org/article/16743659fde8492f9c7d106403e6d696 |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:16743659fde8492f9c7d106403e6d696 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:16743659fde8492f9c7d106403e6d696 2023-06-11T04:09:44+02:00 Spatial characterization of near-surface structure and meltwater runoff conditions across the Devon Ice Cap from dual-frequency radar reflectivity K. Chan C. Grima A. Rutishauser D. A. Young R. Culberg D. D. Blankenship 2023-05-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1839-2023 https://doaj.org/article/16743659fde8492f9c7d106403e6d696 EN eng Copernicus Publications https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/17/1839/2023/tc-17-1839-2023.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-17-1839-2023 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/16743659fde8492f9c7d106403e6d696 The Cryosphere, Vol 17, Pp 1839-1852 (2023) Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1839-2023 2023-05-07T00:32:31Z Melting and refreezing processes in the firn of the Devon Ice Cap control meltwater infiltration and runoff across the ice cap, but their full spatial extent and effect on near-surface structure is difficult to measure with surface-based traverses or existing satellite remote sensing. Here, we derive the coherent component of the near-surface return from airborne ice-penetrating radar surveys over the Devon Ice Cap, Canadian Arctic, to characterize firn containing centimeter- to meter-thick ice layers (i.e., ice slabs) formed from refrozen meltwater in firn. We assess the use of dual-frequency airborne ice-penetrating radar to characterize the spatial and vertical near-surface structure of the Devon Ice Cap by leveraging differences in range resolution of the radar systems. Comparison with reflectivities using a thin layer reflectivity model, informed by surface-based radar and firn core measurements, indicates that the coherent component is sensitive to the near-surface firn structure composed of quasi-specular ice and firn layers, limited by the bandwidth-constrained radar range resolution. Our results suggest that average ice slab thickness throughout the Devon Ice Cap percolation zone ranges from 4.2 to 5.6 m. This implies conditions that can enable lateral meltwater runoff and potentially contribute to the total surface runoff routed through supraglacial rivers down glacier. Together with the incoherent component of the surface return previously studied, our dual-frequency approach provides an alternative method for characterizing bulk firn properties, particularly where high-resolution radar data are not available. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Ice cap The Cryosphere Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Devon Ice Cap ENVELOPE(-82.499,-82.499,75.335,75.335) The Cryosphere 17 5 1839 1852 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 K. Chan C. Grima A. Rutishauser D. A. Young R. Culberg D. D. Blankenship Spatial characterization of near-surface structure and meltwater runoff conditions across the Devon Ice Cap from dual-frequency radar reflectivity |
topic_facet |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
Melting and refreezing processes in the firn of the Devon Ice Cap control meltwater infiltration and runoff across the ice cap, but their full spatial extent and effect on near-surface structure is difficult to measure with surface-based traverses or existing satellite remote sensing. Here, we derive the coherent component of the near-surface return from airborne ice-penetrating radar surveys over the Devon Ice Cap, Canadian Arctic, to characterize firn containing centimeter- to meter-thick ice layers (i.e., ice slabs) formed from refrozen meltwater in firn. We assess the use of dual-frequency airborne ice-penetrating radar to characterize the spatial and vertical near-surface structure of the Devon Ice Cap by leveraging differences in range resolution of the radar systems. Comparison with reflectivities using a thin layer reflectivity model, informed by surface-based radar and firn core measurements, indicates that the coherent component is sensitive to the near-surface firn structure composed of quasi-specular ice and firn layers, limited by the bandwidth-constrained radar range resolution. Our results suggest that average ice slab thickness throughout the Devon Ice Cap percolation zone ranges from 4.2 to 5.6 m. This implies conditions that can enable lateral meltwater runoff and potentially contribute to the total surface runoff routed through supraglacial rivers down glacier. Together with the incoherent component of the surface return previously studied, our dual-frequency approach provides an alternative method for characterizing bulk firn properties, particularly where high-resolution radar data are not available. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
K. Chan C. Grima A. Rutishauser D. A. Young R. Culberg D. D. Blankenship |
author_facet |
K. Chan C. Grima A. Rutishauser D. A. Young R. Culberg D. D. Blankenship |
author_sort |
K. Chan |
title |
Spatial characterization of near-surface structure and meltwater runoff conditions across the Devon Ice Cap from dual-frequency radar reflectivity |
title_short |
Spatial characterization of near-surface structure and meltwater runoff conditions across the Devon Ice Cap from dual-frequency radar reflectivity |
title_full |
Spatial characterization of near-surface structure and meltwater runoff conditions across the Devon Ice Cap from dual-frequency radar reflectivity |
title_fullStr |
Spatial characterization of near-surface structure and meltwater runoff conditions across the Devon Ice Cap from dual-frequency radar reflectivity |
title_full_unstemmed |
Spatial characterization of near-surface structure and meltwater runoff conditions across the Devon Ice Cap from dual-frequency radar reflectivity |
title_sort |
spatial characterization of near-surface structure and meltwater runoff conditions across the devon ice cap from dual-frequency radar reflectivity |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1839-2023 https://doaj.org/article/16743659fde8492f9c7d106403e6d696 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-82.499,-82.499,75.335,75.335) |
geographic |
Arctic Devon Ice Cap |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Devon Ice Cap |
genre |
Arctic Ice cap The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
Arctic Ice cap The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 17, Pp 1839-1852 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/17/1839/2023/tc-17-1839-2023.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-17-1839-2023 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/16743659fde8492f9c7d106403e6d696 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1839-2023 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
17 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
1839 |
op_container_end_page |
1852 |
_version_ |
1768383714532786176 |