Radar Polarimetry in Glaciology: Theory, Measurement Techniques, and Scientific Applications for Investigating the Anisotropy of Ice Masses

Abstract Dielectric anisotropy in ice alters the propagation of polarized radio waves, so polarimetric radar sounding can be used to survey anisotropic properties of ice masses. Ice anisotropy is either intrinsic, associated with ice‐crystal orientation fabric (COF), or extrinsic, associated with material heterogeneity, such as bubbles, fractures, and directional roughness at the glacier bed. Anisotropy develops through a history of snow deposition and ice flow, and the consequent mechanical properties of anisotropy then feed back to influence ice flow. Constraints on anisotropy are therefore important for understanding ice dynamics, ice‐sheet history, and future projections of ice flow and associated sea‐level change. Radar techniques, applied using ground‐based, airborne, or spaceborne instruments, can be deployed more quickly and over a larger area than either direct sampling, via ice‐core drilling, or analogous seismic techniques. Here, we review the physical nature of dielectric anisotropy in glacier ice, the general theory for radio‐wave propagation through anisotropic media, polarimetric radar instruments and survey strategies, and the extent of applications in glacier settings. We close by discussing future directions, such as polarimetric interpretations outside COF, planetary and astrophysical applications, innovative survey geometries, and polarimetric profiling. We argue that the recent proliferation in polarimetric subsurface sounding radar marks a critical inflection, since there are now several approaches for data collection and processing. This review aims to guide the expanding polarimetric user base to appropriate techniques so they can address new and existing challenges in glaciology, such as constraining ice viscosity, a critical control on ice flow and future sea‐level change.

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Publication Details

Journal
Reviews of Geophysics
Published
2025-11-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1029/2024rg000842
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Cryospheric studies and observations
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.60

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article

Radar Polarimetry in Glaciology: Theory, Measurement Techniques, and Scientific Applications for Investigating the Anisotropy of Ice Masses

Daniela Jansen, Alex Brisbourne, Falk M. Oraschewski, Benjamin Hills et al.
2 citations
Reviews of Geophysics
Cryospheric studies and observations
2.60
article

Radar Polarimetry in Glaciology: Theory, Measurement Techniques, and Scientific Applications for Investigating the Anisotropy of Ice Masses

Daniela Jansen, Alex Brisbourne, Falk M. Oraschewski, Benjamin Hills, Nicole Bienert, Giancorrado Brighi, Dustin M. Schroeder, Tamara Annina Gerber, Emma C. Smith, Matthew R. Siegfried, Nicholas Rathmann, Jilu Li, Nicholas Holschuh, Jørgen Dall, Kenichi Matsuoka, Thomas Jordan, Olaf Eisen, M. Reza Ershadi, Martín J. Siegert, John Paden, Carlos Martín, Donald D. Blankenship, Neil Ross, Ole Zeising, Nanna B. Karlsson, Tun Jan Young, Esther Babcock, David A. Lilien, Reinhard Drews, Daniel May, John Bradford
article en
2 citations

Abstract

Abstract Dielectric anisotropy in ice alters the propagation of polarized radio waves, so polarimetric radar sounding can be used to survey anisotropic properties of ice masses. Ice anisotropy is either intrinsic, associated with ice‐crystal orientation fabric (COF), or extrinsic, associated with material heterogeneity, such as bubbles, fractures, and directional roughness at the glacier bed. Anisotropy develops through a history of snow deposition and ice flow, and the consequent mechanical properties of anisotropy then feed back to influence ice flow. Constraints on anisotropy are therefore important for understanding ice dynamics, ice‐sheet history, and future projections of ice flow and associated sea‐level change. Radar techniques, applied using ground‐based, airborne, or spaceborne instruments, can be deployed more quickly and over a larger area than either direct sampling, via ice‐core drilling, or analogous seismic techniques. Here, we review the physical nature of dielectric anisotropy in glacier ice, the general theory for radio‐wave propagation through anisotropic media, polarimetric radar instruments and survey strategies, and the extent of applications in glacier settings. We close by discussing future directions, such as polarimetric interpretations outside COF, planetary and astrophysical applications, innovative survey geometries, and polarimetric profiling. We argue that the recent proliferation in polarimetric subsurface sounding radar marks a critical inflection, since there are now several approaches for data collection and processing. This review aims to guide the expanding polarimetric user base to appropriate techniques so they can address new and existing challenges in glaciology, such as constraining ice viscosity, a critical control on ice flow and future sea‐level change.

Reviews of GeophysicsVol. 63(4)
University of Copenhagen (DK), Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (DE), University of Leeds (GB), British Antarctic Survey (GB), Natural Environment Research Council (GB), Colorado School of Mines (US), University of St Andrews (GB), Amherst College (US), University of Bremen (DE), University of Colorado Boulder (US), University of Exeter (GB), Newcastle College (GB), Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (DK), Plymouth Marine Laboratory (GB), Department of Space (IN), Indiana University Bloomington (US), Analytical Imaging and Geophysics (United States) (US), Center for Remote Sensing and Integrated Systems (US), University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, University of Newcastle Australia (AU), University of Tübingen (DE), Newcastle University (GB), The University of Texas at Austin (US), Norwegian Polar Institute (NO), University of Bologna (IT), Stanford University (US)
National Science Foundation, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Novo Nordisk, Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes, Novo Nordisk Fonden
Openalex Percentile: Top 9%
Cryospheric studies and observations
2.60
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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