Ice Sheet Mass Balance Using GPS Measurements

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This award is for support of a three year program of measurements of the rate of thickening or thinning of the ice sheet at selected sites in Antarctica. The work involves measuring the vertical velocities of markers anchored at several depths in the ice sheet and retrieving shallow firn cores to determine density and long-term average accumulation. Precise, absolute marker positions will be obtained using Global Positioning System (GPS) Surveys. The three existing sites will be revisited and thirteen new sites in nine locations have been proposed for establishment on the East and West Antarctic ice sheets. Measured thickening or thinning rates will be used to test various glacio-logical hypotheses. The results of the work will also be useful for calibrating data from satellite and airborne altimetry of ice sheets. ***