ALBERT

Description: In 2012 we performed an active seismic experiment at Kohnen Station, (S 75.0041, E 0.0637), Antarctica. We recorded two perpendicular seismic profiles. The source was a minivibrator (ELVIS, wheelbarrow sized) producing a 30-240 Hz, 10 s linear sweep. The receivers were 24 3-component spiked geophones place at 10 m (parallel line 20120553) or 5 m separation (perpendicular line 20120554). The first arrivals from the diving wave of the correlated sweep records were used to derive elastic modeli from the firn. We present the raw uncorrelated sweeps, the correlated sweeps and stacks used in the publication Schlegel, R. et al. (2019).

Description: 〈div data-abstract-type="normal"〉〈p〉We compared elastic moduli in polar firn derived from diving wave refraction seismic velocity analysis, firn-core density measurements and microstructure modelling based on firn-core data. The seismic data were obtained with a small electrodynamic vibrator source near Kohnen Station, East Antarctica. The analysis of diving waves resulted in velocity–depth profiles for different wave types (P-, SH- and SV-waves). Dynamic elastic moduli of firn were derived by combining P- and S-wave velocities and densities obtained from firn-core measurements. The structural finite-element method (FEM) was used to calculate the components of the elastic tensor from firn microstructure derived from X-ray tomography of firn-core samples at depths of 10, 42, 71 and 99 m, providing static elastic moduli. Shear and bulk moduli range from 0.39 to 2.42 GPa and 0.68 to 2.42 GPa, respectively. The elastic moduli from seismic observations and the structural FEM agree within 8.5% for the deepest achieved values at a depth of 71 m, and are within the uncertainty range. Our observations demonstrate that the elastic moduli of the firn can be consistently obtained from two independent methods which are based on dynamic (seismic) and static (tomography and FEM) observations, respectively, for deeper layers in the firn below ~10 m depth.〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: We compared elastic moduli in polar firn derived from diving wave refraction seismic velocity analysis, firn-core density measurements and microstructure modelling based on firn-core data. The seismic data were obtained with a small electrodynamic vibrator source near Kohnen Station, East Antarctica. The analysis of diving waves resulted in velocity–depth profiles for different wave types (P-, SH- and SV-waves). Dynamic elastic moduli of firn were derived by combining P- and S-wave velocities and densities obtained from firn-core measurements. The structural finite-element method (FEM) was used to calculate the components of the elastic tensor from firn microstructure derived from X-ray tomography of firn-core samples at depths of 10, 42, 71 and 99 m, providing static elastic moduli. Shear and bulk moduli range from 0.39 to 2.42 GPa and 0.68 to 2.42 GPa, respectively. The elastic moduli from seismic observations and the structural FEM agree within 8.5% for the deepest achieved values at a depth of 71 m, and are within the uncertainty range. Our observations demonstrate that the elastic moduli of the firn can be consistently obtained from two independent methods which are based on dynamic (seismic) and static (tomography and FEM) observations, respectively, for deeper layers in the firn below ~10 m depth.

Description: We compared elastic moduli in polar firn derived from diving wave refraction seismic velocity analysis, firn-core density measurements and microstructure modelling based on firn-core data. The seismic data were obtained with a small electrodynamic vibrator source near Kohnen Station, East Antarctica. The analysis of diving waves resulted in velocity–depth profiles for different wave types (P-, SH- and SV-waves). Dynamic elastic moduli of firn were derived by combining P- and S-wave velocities and densities obtained from firn-core measurements. The structural finite-element method (FEM) was used to calculate the components of the elastic tensor from firn microstructure derived from X-ray tomography of firn-core samples at depths of 10, 42, 71 and 99 m, providing static elastic moduli. Shear and bulk moduli range from 0.39 to 2.42 GPa and 0.68 to 2.42 GPa, respectively. The elastic moduli from seismic observations and the structural FEM agree within 8.5% for the deepest achieved values at a depth of 71 m, and are within the uncertainty range. Our observations demonstrate that the elastic moduli of the firn can be consistently obtained from two independent methods which are based on dynamic (seismic) and static (tomography and FEM) observations, respectively, for deeper layers in the firn below ∼10 m depth.

Description: The densification of firn depends on the elastic properties of firn, processes which are still not fully explained by the usual models. Geophysical methods provide spatially distributed data, while the analysis of firn cores is restricted to finite locations, but with a different vertical resolution. In this study, we compared elastic moduli in polar firn derived from refraction seismic velocity analysis and vertical density profiles from the firn-core measurements to elastic properties derived from microstructure modelling based on firn-core data. The seismic data were obtained with a small electrodynamic vibrator source (ElViS) near Kohnen Station, East Antarctica. The analysis of divingwaves resulted in velocity–depth profiles for P-, SH- and SV-wave velocities. Elastic moduli of firn were derived by combining P- and S-wave velocities and densities obtained from firn-core measurements. P-wave velocities derived from diving-wave analysis range from 2060 m s−1at 10 m depth to 3400 m s−1at 70 m depth, S-wave velocities from 1250 m s−1 to 1700 m s−1, respectively. The structural finite-element method (FEM) was used to calculate the components of the elastic tensor from firn microstructure derivedfrom X-ray tomography of firn-core samples at depths of 10, 42, 71 and 99 m. Shear and bulk moduli range from 0.39 GPa to 2.42 GPa and 0.68 GPa to 2.42 GPa, respectively. The elastic moduli from seismic observations and the structural FEM agree within 8.5% for the values derived at a depth of 71 m, and are within the uncertainty range. Our study demonstrates that elastic moduli of firn can be consistently obtained from two independent methods, which are based on dynamic (seismic) and static (tomography and FEM) observations, respectively. The agreement of the results for both methods indicates that elastic properties in firn can be acquired as spatially distributed data with the seismic approach, supported by local density information. Thus, information about elastic properties can be derived over larger lateral distances than would be possible with the static method. This enables the analysis of the firn and conclusions of the densification models might be drawn from observations of spatial and temporal changes in elastic properties.

Description: Here, we define a test bed for fast flow regions and its vicinity embedded in an ice sheet. This test bed is designed for outlet glaciers and ice streams of the Greenland ice sheet. It consists of a fine resolution part with a manufactured basal trough over which the professional software COMSOL (Multiphysics Modeling Software) operates as a full- Stokes model. Results by COMSOL are compared with coarse resolution simulations with the ice-sheet model SICOPOLIS operating in shallow-ice-approximation mode and using parameterizations of the fast flow effects. For simplification, in this preliminary approach, both models run in isothermal mode. Definition of surface mass balance follows the EISMINT intercomparison project with parameters adapted to the Greenland ice sheet. In particular, we inspect with this test bed upstream and lateral flow effects of ice streams and outlet glaciers. We present first simulations with this approach, although presentation of the test bed itself is the main emphasis of this presentation.

Description: In 2011/12 a shallow reflection seismic survey was carried out at Kohnen Station, East Antarctica. A small electrodynamic vibrator source (ElViS) was used to generate seismic waves to determine the physical properties of firn and shallow ice. Depth converted seismic data could be compared to a nearby ice core, radar and wide-angle seismic measurements. Possible reflections are superimposed by strong diving and surface waves, excited by the ElViS. However, a velocity-depth profile was obtained by the analysis of diving waves. Elastic moduli of firn were calculated using diving-wave velocities and densities derived from ice-core measurements. These elastic moduli, as well as the velocities were compared to elastic moduli derived from a finite element algorithm, based on ice-core data. The difference between field derived values and the model values were found to be within the uncertainty range. Neither the raw nor the processed data shows any signs of englacial reflections. However, the stacked data show aligned high amplitude signals, which were found to be caused by Rayleigh waves. Additionally, a high amplitude signal can be seen at 1.63 s two-way traveltime (TWT). The bed reflection causing this high amplitude signal could be ruled out. The bed reflection for this area was determined by wide-angle data at 1.44s TWT, corresponding to 2700m depth which is in agreement with the depth found in radar and ice-core data (Diez, 2013). The calculations in this work suggest that the signal in 1.63s TWT is possibly caused by a Rayleigh wave that is reflected at nearby containers, but further investigations are necessary. Results demonstrate the adaptability of the ElViS technique to determine physical properties of firn which highlights the potential of this novel technique to be used in future glaciological research. The results presented here may facilitate improvements for further studies.

Description: Over the past 70 years, many different components of the cryosphere have been imaged with a variety of radar systems using increasingly sophisticated processing techniques. These systems use various pulse lengths, signal frequencies and, in some cases, modulated signals. The increasing diversity of radar systems has created the potential for confusion due to the use of non-consistent terminology. Here we provide an overview of state-of-the-science radar technologies and suggest a simplified and unified terminology for use by the cryosphere community. We recommend a terminology that is target independent but specifies the characteristics of the signal. Following this recommendation, commercial impulse systems that penetrate the subsurface should be referred to as ground-penetrating radar (GPR), and pulse radars as radio-echo sounding (RES). Continuous-wave (CW) radar systems should be referred to as ground-penetrating CW radars. We further suggest any additional characterisation of the system be expressed using descriptors that specify the platform it is mounted on (e.g. airborne) or the frequency range (e.g. HF (high frequency)) or modulation (e.g. FM (frequency modulated)).