EAGER: L-Band Radar Ice Sounder for Measuring Ice Basal Conditions and Ice-Shelf Melt Rate

预测冰盖对气候变化的反应及其对海平面的贡献需要在冰下基本条件的数值模型中准确地表示。东南极冰盖和西南极冰盖下的这些基本边界条件仍然存在很大的数据差距，包括冰架下的基本融化速度。该项目将开发和测试一个原型地面雷达系统，以对超过4公里厚的冰进行声音和图像处理，探测冰床上的薄水膜，并确定冰架下的基本融化速度。该团队将在Dome C与欧洲合作伙伴(法国、意大利、德国)合作，对新雷达进行南极深场测试。该项目将建造和测试峰值发射功率为2kW的L波段(1.2-1.4 GHz)雷达系统。除了探测和成像厚冰外，探测目标还包括分辨薄水膜(0.5毫米)。这样的系统将针对冰川学问题，包括150万年年龄范围内的冰的选址，地面冰下的基本应力边界条件，以及漂浮冰架下的融化速度。通过论证可行性，该项目旨在影响卫星任务的传感器选择。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Predicting the response of ice sheets to changing climate and their contribution to sea level requires accurate representation in numerical models of basal conditions under the ice. There remain large data gaps for these basal boundary conditions under the East Antarctic Ice Sheet as well as in West Antarctica, including basal melt rates under ice shelves. This project will develop and test a prototype ground-based radar system to sound and image ice more than 4km thick, detect thin water films at the ice bed, and determine basal melt rates under ice shelves. The team will work with European partners (France, Italy, Germany) at Dome C to conduct deep-field Antarctic testing of the new radar. The project will build and test an L-band radar system (1.2-1.4GHz) with peak transmit power of 2kW. In addition to sounding and imaging thick ice, detection goals include resolving thin water films (0.5mm). Such a system would target glaciological problems including site selection for ice in the 1.5-million-year age range, basal stress boundary conditions under grounded ice, and melt rates under floating shelves. By demonstrating feasibility, the project aims to influence sensor selection for satellite missions.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.