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| Title: |
Deep Ice Stratigraphy and Basal Conditions in Central West Antarctica Revealed by Coherent Radar |
| Author: |
Laird, C.M., Blake, W.A., Matsuoka, K., Conway, H., Allen, C.T., Leuschen, C.J. and Gogineni, S. |
| URL: |
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=5308409&isnumber=4357975
|
| Periodical: |
IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters |
| ISSN/ISBN: |
10.1109/LGRS.2009.2032304 |
| Abstract: |
We discuss results from a high-sensitivity, multichannel,
very high frequency, and surface-based radar depth
sounder/imager. The instrument was used to map deep internal
layers and characterize basal conditions over a 240-km2 grid
in the vicinity of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide ice core
site. The ice thickness at the core site was found to be about
3470 m, and we detected internal layers to within 350 m of the
ice/bed interface. Radar-detected layer stratigraphy does not show
evidence of flow-induced disturbances that might complicate the
depth-age relationship and the interpretation of climate history
preserved in the ice. We also found that bed reflectivity over the
region varies by more than 30 dB. Approximately 15 dB of this
variability appears to be the result of transitions from a frozen
to a thawed bed in a number of places. The remainder probably
results from changes in bed roughness. Our data are important for
planning drilling to the bed, as well as providing constraints and
boundary conditions for regional ice-flow models. |
| Year: |
2009 |
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This site is administered by the WAIS Divide Ice Core Project Science Coordination Office (Desert Research Institute and University of New Hampshire). This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under award OPP-0440817 to the Desert Research Institute, Nevada System of Higher Education. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.