Collaborative Research: Annual satellite era accumulation patterns over WAIS Divide: A study using shallow ice cores, near-surface radars and satellites

该奖项支持一个项目，通过处理2000年美国ITASE导线上获取的现有近地表雷达数据，并通过收集和验证新的近地表层超/超高频（UHF）雷达图像，（至~15米深度），扩大了监测从点源冰芯到雷达线的最近年度积累模式的能力。将结合超高频雷达图像收集浅层（15米）冰芯，以确认雷达回波与冰芯稳定同位素确定的近地表雪的年度层和/或次年度密度变化相对应。 该项目还将通过将空间雷达衍生的年度累积时间序列与可追溯到30多年前并覆盖南极大部分地区的被动微波时间序列进行比较，改进利用空间仪器进行的累积监测。该项目的智力价值在于，绘制南极冰盖积累率的时空变化图对于了解冰盖对气候强迫的反应至关重要。在未来世纪，南极的降水率预计将增加20%。 积累是确定冰盖质量平衡的关键组成部分，因此，海平面上升，但我们的能力，以衡量在过去50年（卫星时代）的年度积累变化主要限于点源冰芯。开发雷达和冰芯得出的年度累积数据集将为空间遥感算法和气候模型提供验证数据，并确定累积趋势。该项目更广泛的影响是，它将通过验证使用超高频雷达监测由视觉、化学和同位素分析从相应的浅冰芯，并将提供一个数据集的年度至近年度的积累测量在过去~ WAIS的50年划分来自现有雷达数据和拟议雷达数据。通过确定被动微波信号的时间变化是否与积累的时间变化相关，将有助于评估被动微波遥感在监测未来几十年冰盖积累率方面的效用。该项目将促进教学，培训和学习，并通过参与美国宇航局冬季项目和Thermochron使命的历史，并通过提供K-12教师培训来监测美国的积雪和温度，将极地研究与学生联系起来，增加代表性不足的群体的代表性。的后院。 该项目将培训极地研究的本科生和研究生，并鼓励年轻的研究人员从事科学事业。特别是，两名REU学生将参与原创研究项目，作为这个更大项目的一部分，从假设的发展到结果的展示和出版。 一位新的年轻女科学家的支持将有助于增加极地研究中的性别多样性。

This award supports a project to broaden the knowledge of annual accumulation patterns over the West Antarctic Ice Sheet by processing existing near-surface radar data taken on the US ITASE traverse in 2000 and by gathering and validating new ultra/super-high-frequency (UHF) radar images of near surface layers (to depths of ~15 m), expanding abilities to monitor recent annual accumulation patterns from point source ice cores to radar lines. Shallow (15 m) ice cores will be collected in conjunction with UHF radar images to confirm that radar echoed returns correspond with annual layers, and/or sub-annual density changes in the near-surface snow, as determined from ice core stable isotopes. This project will additionally improve accumulation monitoring from space-borne instruments by comparing the spatial-radar-derived-annual accumulation time series to the passive microwave time series dating back over 3 decades and covering most of Antarctica. The intellectual merit of this project is that mapping the spatial and temporal variations in accumulation rates over the Antarctic ice sheet is essential for understanding ice sheet responses to climate forcing. Antarctic precipitation rate is projected to increase up to 20% in the coming century from the predicted warming. Accumulation is a key component for determining ice sheet mass balance and, hence, sea level rise, yet our ability to measure annual accumulation variability over the past 5 decades (satellite era) is mostly limited to point-source ice cores. Developing a radar and ice core derived annual accumulation dataset will provide validation data for space-born remote sensing algorithms, climate models and, additionally, establish accumulation trends. The broader impacts of the project are that it will advance discovery and understanding within the climatology, glaciology and remote sensing communities by verifying the use of UHF radars to monitor annual layers as determined by visual, chemical and isotopic analysis from corresponding shallow ice cores and will provide a dataset of annual to near-annual accumulation measurements over the past ~5 decades across WAIS divide from existing radar data and proposed radar data. By determining if temporal changes in the passive microwave signal are correlated with temporal changes in accumulation will help assess the utility of passive microwave remote sensing to monitor accumulation rates over ice sheets for future decades. The project will promote teaching, training and learning, and increase representation of underrepresented groups by becoming involved in the NASA History of Winter project and Thermochron Mission and by providing K-12 teachers with training to monitor snow accumulation and temperature here in the US, linking polar research to the student?s backyard. The project will train both undergraduate and graduate students in polar research and will encouraging young investigators to become involved in careers in science. In particular, two REU students will participate in original research projects as part of this larger project, from development of a hypothesis to presentation and publication of the results. The support of a new, young woman scientist will help to increase gender diversity in polar research.