Brief communication: An empirical relation between center frequency and measured thickness for radar sounding of temperate glaciers

Abstract

Abstract. 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 ∼ 1500 m near 1 MHz, the maximum thickness sounded decreases by ∼ 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, ≤30 MHz airborne radar sounder could survey most temperate glaciers more efficiently.

Democratizing Glacier Data – Maturity of Worldwide Datasets and Future Ambitions

“…GlaThiDa is the only worldwide database of glacier ice thickness observations, and thus plays an important role in studies of glacier ice volumes and their potential sea-level rise contributions (e.g., Farinotti et al, 2017;MacGregor et al, 2021). The measurements are compiled from literature reviews (e.g., Gärtner-Roer et al, 2014), imported from published datasets, or submitted by researchers in response to calls for data.…”