HR: 17:30h
AN: NS14A-07    [Abstracts]
TI: Investigations of the Subsurface by Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR); Examples From Spitsbergen.
AU: * Baelum, k
EM: karolineb@unis.no
AF: UNIS, Post boks 156, Longyearbyen, 9171, Norway
AB: With the IPY scientific investigations in arctic regions are more relevant then ever and electromagnetic waves are favorable for geological mapping in Polar Regions for several reasons: They have high penetration in many materials, especially dry and frozen ones, and they give good structural resolution. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a fast and versatile investigation method, in addition to being cost efficient once the initial equipment cost has been laid down. The equipment can be towed, hauled, driven or carried across virtually any terrain and can in most situations be operated by 2 people. The main problem with the method is its need for a power source and a lack of durability in harsh environments such as the Arctic. Traditionally the main use of GPR in Polar Regions have been mapping of ice thickness but the method has many other applications, the aim of this presentation is to give some examples of GPR use in the high arctic. In the spring of 2004 and 2005 some 117 km of radar line was collected on Tellbreen, a medium size valley glacier located near Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen of which 37,5 km were used for this presentation. The objective of the investigations was to make a simple 3D model of the glacier to gain more knowledge about the internal structures and drainage system. This summer 3 km of radar line was collected on what is presumed to be a cast surface. The data is still not thoroughly processed and further investigations are needed but it indicates that there has been extensive cast activity in the area and the plan is to make a high resolution 3D study of the area.
DE: 0720 Glaciers
DE: 0776 Glaciology (1621, 1827, 1863)
DE: 0794 Instruments and techniques
DE: 0925 Magnetic and electrical methods (5109)
DE: 9315 Arctic region (0718, 4207)
SC: Near-Surface Geophysics [NS]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting