Brief communication: An empirical relation between center frequency and measured thickness for radar sounding of temperate glaciers
<p>Radar sounding of the thickness of temperate glaciers is challenged by substantial volume scattering, surface scattering and high attenuation rates. Lower-frequency radar sounders are often deployed to mitigate these effects, but the lack of a global synthesis of their success limits progre...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2021-06-01
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| Series: | The Cryosphere |
| Online Access: | https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/15/2569/2021/tc-15-2569-2021.pdf |
| Summary: | <p>Radar sounding of the thickness of temperate glaciers is
challenged by substantial volume scattering, surface scattering and high
attenuation rates. Lower-frequency radar sounders are often deployed to
mitigate these effects, but the lack of a global synthesis of their success
limits progress in system and survey design. Here we extend a recent global
compilation of glacier thickness measurements (GlaThiDa) with the center
frequency for radar-sounding surveys. From a maximum reported thickness of
<span class="inline-formula">∼</span> 1500 m near 1 MHz, the maximum thickness sounded decreases
by <span class="inline-formula">∼</span> 500 m per frequency decade. Between 25–100 MHz, newer
airborne radar sounders generally outperform older, ground-based ones. Based
on globally modeled glacier thicknesses, we conclude that a multi-element,
<span class="inline-formula">≤30</span> MHz airborne radar sounder could survey most temperate glaciers
more efficiently.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 1994-0416 1994-0424 |