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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Prototype wireless sensors for monitoring subsurface processes in snow and firn
AU - Bagshaw, Elizabeth A.
AU - Karlsson, Nanna B.
AU - Lok, Lai Bun
AU - Lishman, B. E.N.
AU - Clare, Lindsay
AU - Nicholls, Keith W.
AU - Burrow, Steve
AU - Wadham, Jemma L.
AU - Eisen, Olaf
AU - Corr, Hugh
AU - Brennan, Paul
AU - Dahl-Jensen, Dorthe
PY - 2018/12
Y1 - 2018/12
N2 - The detection and monitoring of meltwater within firn presents a significant monitoring challenge. We explore the potential of small wireless sensors (ETracer+, ET+) to measure temperature, pressure, electrical conductivity and thus the presence or absence of meltwater within firn, through tests in the dry snow zone at the East Greenland Ice Core Project site. The tested sensor platforms are small, robust and low cost, and communicate data via a VHF radio link to surface receivers. The sensors were deployed in low-temperature firn at the centre and shear margins of an ice stream for 4 weeks, and a 'bucket experiment' was used to test the detection of water within otherwise dry firn. The tests showed the ET+ could log subsurface temperatures and transmit the recorded data through up to 150 m dry firn. Two VHF receivers were tested: an autonomous phase-sensitive radio-echo sounder (ApRES) and a WinRadio. The ApRES can combine high-resolution imaging of the firn layers (by radio-echo sounding) with in situ measurements from the sensors, to build up a high spatial and temporal resolution picture of the subsurface. These results indicate that wireless sensors have great potential for long-term monitoring of firn processes.
AB - The detection and monitoring of meltwater within firn presents a significant monitoring challenge. We explore the potential of small wireless sensors (ETracer+, ET+) to measure temperature, pressure, electrical conductivity and thus the presence or absence of meltwater within firn, through tests in the dry snow zone at the East Greenland Ice Core Project site. The tested sensor platforms are small, robust and low cost, and communicate data via a VHF radio link to surface receivers. The sensors were deployed in low-temperature firn at the centre and shear margins of an ice stream for 4 weeks, and a 'bucket experiment' was used to test the detection of water within otherwise dry firn. The tests showed the ET+ could log subsurface temperatures and transmit the recorded data through up to 150 m dry firn. Two VHF receivers were tested: an autonomous phase-sensitive radio-echo sounder (ApRES) and a WinRadio. The ApRES can combine high-resolution imaging of the firn layers (by radio-echo sounding) with in situ measurements from the sensors, to build up a high spatial and temporal resolution picture of the subsurface. These results indicate that wireless sensors have great potential for long-term monitoring of firn processes.
KW - glaciological instruments and methods
KW - melt-surface
KW - polar firn
KW - snow/ice surface processes
U2 - 10.1017/jog.2018.76
DO - 10.1017/jog.2018.76
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85055249387
VL - 64
SP - 887
EP - 896
JO - Journal of Glaciology
JF - Journal of Glaciology
SN - 0022-1430
IS - 248
ER -