Ice and Bedrock Characteristics Underneath Dome C (Antarctica) From Radio Echo Sounding Data Analysis

The radio echo sounding (RES) system is one of the most widely used active remote sensing techniques for polar ice sheet exploration, including bedrock morphology studies and subglacial lake investigations. Recently, bedrock characterization has been improved through the analysis of radar echo strength. In this paper, the analysis of the RES signal amplitude has been used to collect information about the controversial problem of electromagnetic ice absorption to highlight areas of high reflectivity variation, ascribable to wet ice-bedrock interfaces. A method to distinguish a wet or dry bedrock-ice interface using a model to describe the internal ice absorption is proposed and discussed. Moreover, the comparison between the ice absorption rates from RES measurements and from European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica Dome C (Antarctica) ice core conductivity data, the signal amplitude contributions of internal ice layers, and different kinds of rock interface is evaluated. Encouraged by the results, the data analysis led to obtaining a bedrock reflectivity variation map of the Dome C area. This map outlined a wide dispersion of wet/dry rock interfaces in the studied area, indicating the possibility of flowing water along both sides of the Concordia Trench.