Ice-shelf ApRES 2013/2014

Description

The ice-shelf ApRES systems were deployed during the 2013/2014 field season on the ice shelf of Pine Island Glaicer. The 3 systems were deployed for a year to allow a daily measurement of ice shelf condition to identify ice condition change.

Site 1 and 3 include imaging radar whilst site 2 includes a range radar :

- 4 bursts/day

- 64 chirps/burst

- Averaging off

Range radar:

- 12 bursts/day

- 20 chirps/burst

- Averaging on

References

1. iSTAR - Summary of activities

2. iSTAR - return to amundsen sea

Field photo

The phase-sensitive radar (ApRES) determines ice shelf basal melt rates, used for measuring the deformation of the Antarctic ice sheet. ApRES was developed in a collaboration between BAS and University College London. Lai Bun Lok, UCL

Figures

Figure 1: Site 2 ApRES chirp and range response indicating basal condition change at 500m. Lai Bun Lok, UCL