The application of the GPR-method for safety of logistics operations near the Russkaya station in West Antarctica

• Main Authors: A. Sukhanova A., V. Kharitonov V., S. Popov V., M. Kashkevich P., А. Суханова А., В. Харитонов В., С. Попов В., М. Кашкевич П.
• Other Authors: The authors are grateful to the staff of season works of the 65 RAE S.V. Kashin for assistance in carrying out of the field work, to the head of the season works of the 65 RAE V.L. Martyanov and A.N. Nikolaev for assistance during the work organization, to the staff of «Aerogeodezia» E.V. Brovkov and D.V. Fedorov for help in carrying out of the field work, to the staff of IPCA BPSS RAS A.A. Abramov for providing aerial photography data, the to the crew of «Avialift Vladivostok» for carrying out of logistic operations in the field work, to Institute of Earth Sciences of St . Petersburg State University for providing the geophysical equipment., Авторы выражают благодарность сотруднику ОСО 65-й РАЭ С.В. Кашину за помощь в выполнении полевых работ, руководству сезонной экспедиции 65-й РАЭ В.Л. Мартьянову и А.Н. Николаеву за помощь в организации работ, сотрудникам АО «Аэрогеодезия» Е.В. Бровкову и Д.В. Федорову за помощь при выполнении полевых изысканий, сотруднику ИФХиБПП РАН А.А. Абрамову за предоставление материалов аэрофотосъёмки, экипажу ЗАО «Авиалифт Владивосток» за обеспечение логистических операций в рамках проводимых работ, Институту наук о Земле СПбГУ за предоставленную геофизическую аппаратуру.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Russian
• Published: IGRAS 2022
• Subjects: GPR-method;ice crevasses;logistics operations;runway;Russkaya station;West Antarctica; георадиолокация;ледниковые трещины;логистические операции;взлётно-посадочная полоса;станция Русская;Западная Антарктида; Antarctic; Byrd; Marie Byrd Land; Rae; Russkaya; Russkaya Station; West Antarctica; Antarc*; Antarctica; Антарктида
• Online Access: https://ice-snow.igras.ru/jour/article/view/1036; https://doi.org/10.31857/S2076673422030142

The Russkaya station (Marie Byrd Land, West Antarctica) was one of the wintering stations of the Russian Antarctic Expedition (RAE) before its conservation in 1990. Starting from the field season of the 65th RAE (2019/20), work is under way at Russkaya station to put it into operation as a functioning wintering station. Due to its significant distance from other RAE infrastructure sites and also due to severe climate, organization of logistical operations in this area requires a special approach. For the most effective transport communication with the station, it is planned to organize an airstrip to receive planes on ski landing gear on the surface of the outlet glacier. Glaciers of this type are oſten characterized by crevasses, which are not traceable on the surface, which makes it necessary to study the structural sub-surface features of the glacier. For this purpose, geophysical survey in the field season of the 65th RAE were carried out with usage of the GPR-method. GPR profiling at a frequency of 900 MHz allowed us to identify the crevasses and assess their morphometric characteristics, in particular the width and depth. The widest crevasses were examined in detail to improve the interpretation of GPR data. Based on the results of geophysical works, the boundaries of zones were determined, within which the crevasses are either absent, or their width does not exceed 0.6 m. In addition, by means of core drilling, values of ice density to a depth of 5 m from the surface were obtained, which correspond to the normative data on preparation of airfields for operation of airplanes on ski landing gear. Based on the results of geophysical and glaciological investigations, a site on the glacier suitable for runway preparation was identified. An area safe for organization of transport communication between the airfield and Russkaya station was also identified. It is adjacent to the hills of the oasis, as the glacier in this part is the most stationary. Представлены результаты исследований, выполненных на участке ледника в ...