Radar measurements of borehole geometry on the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets

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Abstract
A method for measuring the geometry of boreholes in glaciers has been developed and tested in Greenland and Antarctica. Coordinates of points along the borehole are determined by lowering a passive radar target into the borehole and then tracking the target from three surface stations. Comparison of geometry interpreted from radar data and from a conventional inclinometry experiment indicates that radar data can be used to estimate average borehole inclination and azimuth but cannot be used to measure details of the borehole geometry that are revealed by conventional inclinometry surveys. Random error introduced by variations in the physical properties of the glacier and electrical noise in the radar unit limit measurement accuracy, but the accuracy can be improved by establishing additional surface radar stations around the borehole. These experiments demonstrate the utility of the radar method and suggest the possibility of deploying permanently installed radar targets in ice sheets to measure intraglacial movements.

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