Estimation of absolute water content in Spitsbergen glaciers from radar sounding data

[摘要] Field data available on radio-wave velocities and power reflection coefficients from the cold/temperate ice boundary have been used to estimate the absolute water content and its variations in the temperate ice of two-layered galciers on Spitsbergen. The data have been interpreted with certain assumptions concerning radio-wave propagation and reflection models. The study shows that in cold periods, the average total water content in the upper part of the temperate ice varies in different glaciers from 2.8 to 9.1%. Macro inclusions might contain the major part of the total water content volume. Within one glacier, the spatial variability of water content in the upper part of the temperate ice varies in different galciers from 2.8 to 9.1%. Macro inclusions might contain the major part of the total water volume. Within one glacier, the spatial variability of water content in the upper part of the temperature ice is 1.7 - 11.9%. Seasonal variation of the total water content in the temperate layer reaches 2.3%...

[学科分类] 自然科学（综合）