HR: 16:15h
AN: NS34A-02 INVITED    [Abstracts]
TI: Development of a Next Generation Polar Multidisciplinary Airborne Imaging System for the International Polar Year 2007-2009
AU: * Bell, R E
EM: robinb@ldeo.columbia.edu
AF: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, 61 Rt 9W, Palisades, NY 10964, United States
AU: Studinger, M
EM: mstuding@ldeo.columbia.edu
AF: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, 61 Rt 9W, Palisades, NY 10964, United States
AU: Frearson, N
EM: nfre@ldeo.columbia.edu
AF: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, 61 Rt 9W, Palisades, NY 10964, United States
AU: Gogineni, P
EM: gogineni@cresis.ku.edu
AF: CReSIS University of Kansas, 316 Nichols Hall 2335 Irving Hill Road, Lawrence, KS 66045,
AU: Braaten, D
EM: braaten@ku.edu
AF: CReSIS University of Kansas, 316 Nichols Hall 2335 Irving Hill Road, Lawrence, KS 66045,
AB: Key elements in Earth's geodynamic and climatic systems, the polar regions are very sensitive to changing global environmental conditions such as increasing sea surface temperatures and have the potential to trigger significant global sea level rise as large volumes of ice melt. Locked within these icy regions are the records of past global climate shifts and novel ecosystems sealed from open interactions with the atmosphere for millions of years. While satellite missions can image the surface of the polar ice sheet, many of the key processes occur beneath the surface beyond the reach of space based observations. These crucial processes can only be efficiently examined through airborne instrumentation designed to study the vast expanses of snow and ice of the Antarctic continent, the sub-continent of Greenland and the surrounding oceans. The expanding logistical infrastructure associated with the International Polar Year (2007-2009) will enable the scientific community access major new portions of the polar regions. We are developing a state-of-the-art integrated multidisciplinary aerogeophysical instrumentation package for deployment during multi-national expeditions as part of the International Polar Year. This development project brings together the recent developments in radar sounding by the University of Kansas CReSIS (Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets), that now permit the full characterization of the entire ice sheet and the major advances in the accuracy, resolution and efficiency of airborne gravity technology emerging from the private sector. Integrating the full spectrum of ice sheet imaging with high-resolution gravity and magnetics will enable the imaging of the previously invisible world of subglacial hydrodynamics.
DE: 0920 Gravity methods (1219)
DE: 0933 Remote sensing
DE: 4540 Ice mechanics and air/sea/ice exchange processes (0700, 0750, 0752, 0754)
SC: Near-Surface Geophysics [NS]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting