Radio-echo soundings on Icelandic temperate glaciers: history of techniques and findings

• Published in: Annals of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Björnsson, Helgi, Pálsson, Finnur
• Other Authors: Jarðvísindastofnun (HÍ), Institute of Earth Sciences (UI), Verkfræði- og náttúruvísindasvið (HÍ), School of Engineering and Natural Sciences (UI), Háskóli Íslands, University of Iceland
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2020
• Subjects: Glacier geophysics; Glacier hazards; Glacier hydrology; Glacier mapping; Radio-echo sounding; Jöklafræði; Jöklarannsóknir; Eggert; Annals of Glaciology; glacier; Iceland
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/2390; https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2020.10

Publisher's version (útgefin grein) Since the mid-1970s radio-echo soundings have been conducted on Iceland's temperate glaciers. Since then, low-frequency radar technology has furthered the study of most of the island's ice caps. Their masses and volumes have been quantified and detailed subglacial topographic maps produced which demarcate glacial drainage basins and identify subglacial lakes and volcanoes. Even internal tephra layers have been charted. The resulting data have been used to force and validate models of past and future glacier evolution. Many practical applications in glacier hydrology have come into being, including hydropower management, road and bridge planning and the prediction of catastrophic flood paths from subglacial eruption sites. Finally, emerging landscapes can now be foreseen in places where glaciers may soon disappear. These achievements would not have been possible without the advances in RES technology. The work was supported by The National Power Company of Iceland, The Road and Coastal Administration of Iceland, The Parliament Financial Committee and the Research Fund of Eggert V. Briem. Special thanks to our colleague Eyjólfur Magnússon who processed the digital RES and for fruitful discussion on the paper content. We are grateful to Philip Vogler for improving the English text of the manuscript. Peer Reviewed