Instruments and Methods Airborne radar sounder for temperate ice: initial results from Patagonia

We describe the development of a low-frequency airborne radar specifically designed for the sounding of temperate ice. The system operates at a central frequency of 1MHz and consists of an impulse transmitter with an output voltage up to 5000V and a digital receiver with a maximum gain of 80dB. The radar was deployed on board a CASA 212 aircraft, which also carries a laser altimeter, an inertial navigation system, a digital camera and a GPS receiver. A description of the radar system is provided, as well as preliminary results obtained at Glaciar Tyndall, Campo de Hielo Sur (Southern Patagonia Icefield), where an ice depth of 670m was reached.