Surface surveys

During surface (CO and CMP) surveys we recorded at discrete stations, and signals were stacked 128 times per trace. The survey lines were run with the antennae orientated perpendicular to the profile direction. This orientation minimizes reflections from offline because the radiation pattern has its widest energy footprint in the so-called H-plane, which is perpendicular to the antenna axis (Reference ArconeArcone, 1995; Reference Arcone, Lawson and DelaneyArcone and others, 1995).

CO surveys are analogous to seismic reflection profiles and are used in this study as a control on the velocity determinations from borehole and CMP surveys. During these surveys the transmitter and receiver were mounted on a small sledge with the 50 MHz antennae fixed 2 m apart. The station spacing was 0.5 ± 0.05 m.

CMP surveys are collected by progressively offsetting the transmitter and receiver symmetrically about a central point. Analysis of the resulting hyperbolic increases in travel times from near-horizontal reflectors at the CMP is a standard method of measuring the velocity of signal propagation and its variation with two-way travel time (twtt) or depth. Additional near-surface velocity information can be determined from the linear distance–time plot of the ground-coupled wave. A 120 m long CMP survey was undertaken in the cross-glacier direction in which surface and basal topography changes were expected to be smallest, and flat reflectors therefore most likely to occur. The line was centred at 60 m on 97GX1 (Fig. 1). Antenna spacing increased at 0.5 m intervals. The survey used 50 MHz antennae for maximum penetration.

Borehole surveys

Borehole surveys allow the direct measurement of velocity of propagation of the radar signal. Fewer assumptions are made during their interpretation than in the more widespread CMP surveys, and hence they allow direct testing of the velocity results of CMP surveys. Various types of borehole survey are possible; we undertook vertical radar profiles (VRPs) (analogous to vertical seismic profiles). Previous borehole studies have involved lowering a radar target down a borehole (e.g. Reference Jezek and RoeloffsJezek and Roeloffs, 1983; Reference JezekJezek, 1985) or used interferometric techniques (Reference RobinRobin, 1975). During our VRP surveys, the transmitting antenna was placed on the glacier surface, and the receiving antenna was lowered progressively down the borehole. This allowed us to measure the velocity in the vertical propagation direction, analagous to the velocities determined by CMP surveys.

The VRP survey reported in this paper used 100 MHz antennae and was undertaken in borehole 9705 situated approximately 75 m from the centre of the CMP survey (Fig. 1). The borehole was water-filled at the time of surveying. The transmitter was located 5.5 m north of the borehole, the receiver was lowered down the borehole in 0.5 m steps and 64 traces were stacked at each depth. Due to the length of cable connecting the antenna to the receiver, the survey was limited to 30 m depth. This limitation meant that to extend the velocity information to the glacier bed (∼110 m) the results from borehole surveys must be combined with those from CMP surveys.

Borehole video

Based on initial radar results, boreholes were drilled using a hot-water drill at points of particular interest on radar lines 96GX2 and 96GX3. Three of these boreholes, 9608, 9611 and 9612 (Fig. 1), were then logged using a video camera based on the commercial oceanographic See-Snake system (Deep Sea Power and Light, San Diego, U.S.A.). The camera cable is marked every 2 m and the operator recorded the depth orally on the sound track each time a mark entered the borehole. The video was subsequently visually logged for crystallography, sediment content and the presence of englacial water bodies and channels, and used to correlate with reflection events on the CO surveys. Depths between marks have an estimated accuracy of better than ±0.2 m.

CMP surveys

We analyzed the CMP data, in conjunction with the CO surveys (Fig. 3). Like the CO data, the unfiltered CMP data contain high-frequency clutter, which leads to false semblance peaks as well as those resulting from real reflections (Fig. 4). The filtered data allowed identification of real semblance peaks before the velocities in the unfiltered data were picked. The very high velocities seen on the semblance plots at two way travel times greater than that generated by the glacier bed occur because of dipping or offline reflectors (Fig. 4). Either will result in false semblance highs at two-way travel times that are unrealistically long and velocities that are too fast. These semblance peaks were therefore ignored.

Fig. 3.

Results of 50 MHz cross-glacier CMP survey (see Fig 1 for location) displayed with an AGC function of 500 ns length. Arrow marks location of abrupt change in interval velocity interpreted to be the piezometric surface. (a) Corresponding section of the 50 MHz CO line 97GX1. (b) CMP de wowed and filtered using 25 MHz filter. A, airwave (velocity 0.298 ± 0.001 m ns⁻¹);I, ground-coupled wave (velocity 0.166 ± 0.001 m ns⁻¹). (c) CMP dewowed but unfiltered. (d) CMP dewowed and filtered using 10 MHz filter Details of filters are given in Figure 2 caption.

Fig. 4.

Semblance plots from 50 MHz cross-glacier CMP survey. (a) Velocity spectrum from dewowed but otherwise unfiltered data (see Fig 1 for location). Semblance values are plotted from lowest (white) to highest (black). (b) Peak semblance for dewowed unfiltered data. (c) Peak semblance for data dewowed and filtered using 25 MHz filter. (d) Peak semblance for data dewowed and filtered using 10 MHz filter. Filter details are given in Figure 2 caption. Black circles and arrows in (a) and (b) show the semblance highs that were used in this analysis (Table 1).

Table 1.

Final model for interval velocity variation with depth from combined VRP and CMP results

The results of semblance analyses following filtering (Fig. 4) were used to obtain the rms velocity of propagation to each reflector (Table 1). Eight estimates of the rms velocity were obtained at two-way travel times between 345 ns and the glacier bed at 1440 ns. The interval velocity (Table 1) was then estimated using Dix’s equation (e.g. Reference Sheriff and GeldartSheriff and Geldart, 1995, p. 130). The interval velocity was 0.160 m ns⁻¹ at 345 ns, fell sharply to 0.149 m ns⁻¹ between this twtt and 380 ns, and then rose progressively to 0.167 m ns⁻¹ at the bed. Further control came from the comparison of depths calculated from the rms velocity to the glacier bed (0.156 m ns⁻¹) and measured depths of boreholes. The depth of boreholes drilled within 10 m of the radar lines (Fig. 1) agrees with the depth of the reflector interpreted as the glacier bed to ±7 m. The linear ground-coupled wave travelling in the surface ice was picked on the CMP survey and gave a velocity of 0.166 ± 0.001 m ns⁻¹ (Fig. 3).

Borehole radar surveys

The first breaks from VRP surveys were picked at 5% of the maximum trace amplitude (Fig. 5a). We assume that the first break corresponds to energy with a straight-line propagation path through the glacier ice. Travel distances between transmitter and receiver were corrected for the offset between the transmitter and borehole, and interval velocities were then calculated using a seven-point average least-squares fit to the gradient of the resulting time–distance plot. The VRP survey indicated that interval velocity varies with depth between 0.147 and 0.172 m ns⁻¹ (Fig. 5b). Rms velocities were calculated from these interval velocities to compare with the CMP survey, and varied from 0.167 m ns at the surface (cf. 0.166 m ns⁻¹ derived from the CMP ground-coupled wave), dropping to 0.151 m ns⁻¹ at 2.5 m and gradually rising to 0.162 m ns⁻¹ at 26.5 m depth.

Fig. 5.

Results of 100 MHz VRP survey at borehole 9705. The transmitter was placed 5.5 m from the borehole. (a) GPR output. Signals have been dewowed. (b) Interval velocity vs depth profile using seven-point average least-squaresfit to VRP results.

The largest component of error in these calculations is the deviation of the true geometry of the borehole from vertical. Errors resulting from picking and antennae placement are considered to be negligible in comparison. The boreholes were drilled using standard hot-water drilling techniques. In the absence of inclinometric measurements, we calculate the error in the velocity by assuming a maximum 5° deviation of the borehole from vertical. This is less than the maximum deviation quoted by Reference Copland, Harbor, Minner and SharpCopland and others (1997) from a study of deep boreholes at Haut Glacier d’Arolla, Switzerland, drilled using similar techniques, but is 2–3° larger than their maximum error at 30 m depth, which is the depth limit on our borehole radar. The error shown in Figure 5 decreases with depth because of the increased path length between the antennae.

Velocity–depth profile

The detailed but shallow velocity information from the borehole survey needs to be integrated with the CMP results which extend to the glacier bed. The velocities estimated from CMP surveys are interval velocities calculated from rms velocities, whereas those resulting from VRP surveys are interval velocities calculated from vertical travel times. We assume that interval velocities calculated from these two types of measurements can be directly equated. The deepest antenna during the borehole VRP surveys at 26.5 m gave an average velocity from the surface of 0.162 m ns⁻¹. The first rms velocity of the CMP survey, which is equivalent to the average velocity in the first layer, was 0.160 m ns⁻¹. This value was determined at a 345 ns twtt or 27.6 m depth (Table 1). Thus, there is good agreement between the deepest VRP estimates of velocity and the shallowest velocity from the CMP surveys, despite the different locations of the two surveys (Fig. 1). Furthermore, the depth measured to the channels seen on the borehole video and the reflector on the corresponding CO line (Figs 6 and 7) can be used to calculate an independent velocity estimate of 0.157–0.162 m ns⁻¹ at 370 ns twtt, which is consistent with the velocity from the CMP survey (Table 1). These observations suggest that lateral variations are small compared to vertical variations within the surveyed region, and therefore that the CMP and VRP surveys can be combined in a single velocity model for this region of the glacier.

Fig. 6.

50 MHz GPR CO line 96GX2, processed using dewow and AGC function (see text for details). F, feature corresponding to a series of active channels located on borehole video. The positions of surface features on the line that may cause interference are marked: s, stream; M, moulin; b, borehole; c, crevasse.

Fig. 7.

Results from video from borehole (9611) on line 96GX2. (a) Schematic logs of water bodies, (b) Frame grab of one of a series of channels at 29–32 m thought to cause reflection F in Figure 6 at 10–22 m along the line at approximately 370 ns twtt. Water can be seen entering the borehole from the channel in the centre of the frame at a height of approximately two-thirds the frame height.

Velocity models

A layered model of interval velocity with depth was developed that incorporated the results of both the VRP and CMP surveys. The developmental criteria were: (i) a simple model was preferred, with the lowest number of layers needed to explain the data; (ii) a model with smooth variations in velocity was preferred over one that oscillated between fast and slow velocities at each layer in order to fit the data. The final velocity model (Table 1) has four layers. The surface velocity was taken from the velocity of the ground-coupled wave, 0.166 ± 0.001 m ns⁻¹, and the velocity in the upper 26.5 m from the VRP survey (layers 1a and 1b; Fig. 5b). The CMP survey then indicated a sharp drop in interval velocity from 0.160 to 0.149 m ns⁻¹ between 345 and 380 ns twtt (layer 2), followed by a more gradual rise at greater depth (layer 3). The sharp change in interval velocity results in a reflection coefficient of −0.04 and hence would result in a very weak reflection. The temporal location of such a reflection is shown in Figure 3. Layer 3 continues down to 1220 ns where velocity increases to 0.167 m ns⁻¹ (layer 4), which is the velocity calculated for ice between here and the glacier bed at 1440 ns. The abrupt changes in velocity at layer boundaries (Table 1) are probably artificial, and a more gradual variation as shown in Figure 8 is likely to be more representative of the real situation.

Fig. 8.

Best model of water content vs depth using combined borehole and CMP results. The bar on the right shows the water content conceptually; shading increases in intensity with increasing water content.

These velocities calculated for Falljökull are lower than those typically given for cold glacier ice. However, the velocity of electromagnetic radiation in temperate ice is known to decrease with increasing water content of the ice (Reference Macheret, Moskalevsky and VasilenkoMacheret and others, 1993). For example, velocities of 0.138 and 0.159 m ns⁻¹ are quoted for temperate glaciers in the Western Alps (Reference NicollinNicollin and others, 1992) and New Zealand (Reference Nobes, Leary, Hochstein and HenrysNobes and others, 1994), respectively.

Estimates of water content

If glacier ice is assumed to be a two-component mixture with random inclusions of water with characteristic dimensions much less than the radar-signal wavelength, then the velocity–depth profile presented (Fig. 5b; Table 1) can be considered equivalent to a water-content–depth profile. The radar velocity of ice with randomly distributed linear water inclusions can be modelled using Paren’s mixture formula. This relates the fractional water content, n, to the relative dielectric permittivities of dry glacier ice, ε _i, and water, ε _w, the speed of electromagnetic radiation in free space, c, and the measured speed of propagation through the wet ice, v:

(Reference ParenParen, 1970; Reference Smith and EvansSmith and Evans, 1972). An alternative approach is to consider the inclusions to be randomly distributed spherical bodies. In this case the Looyenga mixture formula can be used:

(Reference LooyengaLooyenga, 1965; Reference Macheret, Moskalevsky and VasilenkoMacheret and others, 1993). The estimate of water content using the Looyenga mixture formula (Equation (3)) is always greater than that using Paren’s mixture formula (Equation (2)). In subsequent discussion each water content quoted will be calculated from Paren’s mixture formula followed in parentheses by that calculated using the Looyenga mixture formula.

The water-content–depth model is presented in Figure 8. It assumes that other factors known to change the electrical properties of ice, such as the presence of air bubbles, chemical impurities, debris or crystal orientation (e.g. Reference PatersonPaterson, 1994), do not change with depth at this glacier. The velocity of propagation at the glacier surface is 0.166 m ns⁻¹, which is equivalent to a water content of 0.23% (0.34%). The borehole-survey results then suggest the water content rises slowly and falls again as the velocity rises towards 26 m depth. The sharp fall in velocity to 0.149 m ns at 28 m below the surface corresponds to water content rising to 3.0% (4.1%). Between 28 and 33 m depth the velocity is 0.149 m ns⁻¹, rising to 0.151 m ns⁻¹ at 33 m, corresponding to a drop in water content to 2.1% (2.9%) between 33 and 102 m. Between 102 m and the glacier bed the velocity is 0.167 m ns⁻¹, and corresponding water content 0.09% (0.14%). The depth-averaged water content for the entire thickness of the glacier is 1.74% (2.48%). The depth-averaged value at Falljökull is similar to the water content of Abramov glacier in the Altai mountains, central Asia, calculated as 1.27% (1.69%) averaged over the ice column in the ablation area and 1.61% (2.16%) for warm ice in the accumulation zone (Reference Macheret, Moskalevsky and VasilenkoMacheret and others, 1993).

The rapid decrease in velocity at 28 m is attributed to an increase in water content to 3.0% (4.1%), although an alternative explanation would be a rapid increase in sediment content within the glacier ice (e.g. Reference Murray, Gooch and StuartMurray and others, 1997). We cannot differentiate between these two possibilities on the basis of the velocity contrast across this boundary, because both would result in an increase in permittivity (Reference Arcone, Lawson and DelaneyArcone and others, 1995). However, the logs of video from boreholes 9611 and 9612 do not support the presence of sediment at this depth (Fig. 7). The water level within voids and channels that are connected to the glacier bed will vary as a result of changes in basal water pressure. Borehole water-pressure measurements show mean water pressure to be equivalent to a water surface at 28.5 m below the glacier surface on one pressure sensor and at 36.5 m on a second pressure sensor during the period following the GPR surveys (Reference CrabtreeCrabtree, 1999). Diurnal fluctuations in pressure were small, typically <10 m (Reference CrabtreeCrabtree, 1999). These observations, together with the continuing high water content of ice below 28 m level to >90 m, suggests that the increase in water content at 28 m most likely represents a physical manifestation of the piezometric surface. Layer 2 might alternatively represent the depth of a significant number of englacial channels or a concentration of water-filled voids (Reference Jacobel and AndersonJacobel and Anderson, 1987; Reference Hooke and PohjolaHooke and Pohjola, 1994), with fewer forming in the surface ice (layer 1) or in the deepest ice (layers 3 and 4), but this is deemed less likely. The top of layer 2 is marked by only a weak reflector, in stark contrast to the strong reflection seen from an englacial channel (F in Fig. 6). This contrast suggests that the interface at the top of layer 2 is rougher or more diffuse than seen at channel features.

The water-content model we have produced for Falljökull shows an essentially four-layered structure (Fig. 8), although the propagation velocity measured, and hence water content inferred, is expected to vary continuously through the profile rather than in steps. The surface ice (layer 1a) has a high velocity, typical of that reported for cold ice, and is thought to have a high porosity and low water content. It is likely that this ice is well drained (cf. Reference Fountain and WalderFountain and Walder, 1998). Within a few metres of the surface the ice becomes wetter (layer 1b). A sharp fall in propagation velocity and hence rise in water content at 28 m depth (layer 2) to 3.0% (4.1%) is inferred to be the piezometric surface of the glacier. This implies that there must be sufficient void space within the ice that is connected to the basal water system and which can act as a manometer reacting to changes in basal water pressure. Below the piezometric surface, this wetter ice is underlain by two layers of progressively lower-water-content ice (layers 3 and 4).

While profiles of water content for temperate glaciers are generally lacking in the literature, several authors have produced models for the water content of subpolar glaciers from combinations of the presence of internal reflecting horizons, radar velocity measurements or thermistor measurements (e.g. Reference Macheret, Moskalevsky and VasilenkoMacheret and others, 1993; Reference Jania, Mochnacki and GadekJania and others, 1996). These models vary in the number of layers they distinguish, from simple two-layer models (e.g. Reference BamberBamber, 1987) to four-layer models that identify both the cold-warm ice boundary and the level of the piezometric surface within the glacier (Reference Jania, Mochnacki and GadekJania and others, 1996). The more complex of these models show marked similarities to the model we have developed for the ice profile at Falljökull. At Hansbreen, a polythermal glacier in Svalbard, Reference Jania, Mochnacki and GadekJania and others (1996) developed a four-layer model that suggests that the cold surface ice (absent at Falljökull) is underlain by a 20–40 m thick layer of warm ice with a low water content (equivalent to our layer 1). The piezometric surface delineates the top of a 60 m thick layer of warm ice with water content of 4–5% (equivalent to our layer 2) which is underlain by a further low-water-content layer close to the glacier bed (Reference Jania, Mochnacki and GadekJania and others, 1996), equivalent to our layers 3 and 4. The high-water-content layer at Hansbreen was also identified by Reference Macheret, Moskalevsky and VasilenkoMacheret and others (1993), although they suggested that the values were anomalously high and probably resulted from a concentration of water-filled channels and cavities within the ice column (Reference Macheret, Moskalevsky and VasilenkoMacheret and others, 1993).

The water contents inferred from measurement of the propagation velocity of electromagnetic radiation appear to be higher than those measured on ice cores from temperate ice, which are typically 0.1–1% at maximum (e.g. Reference Raymond and HarrisonRaymond and Harrison, 1975; Reference Vallon, Petit and FabreVallon and others, 1976). Our measurements suggest that at Falljökull the wettest ice has a water content of 3.0–4.1%. Measurements by methods that are fundamentally similar give values that are similar for warm ice at other sites. For example, Reference BamberBamber (1987) gives a value of >3% for the wettest ice layer at a number of Svalbard glaciers using the Looyenga mixture fomula (Equation (3)). Reference Macheret, Moskalevsky and VasilenkoMacheret and others (1993) calculate 4–5% for ice at Hansbreen using both the Looyenga and Paren’s mixture formulae (Equations (2) and (3)).

Assuming that the dielectric mixing formulae used are valid, the most obvious difference between the radar and ice-core measurements is that the radar measurements are averaging over a much greater sample volume. Water bodies that were large with respect to some fraction of the core diameter (the core would be incomplete or structurally unsound if large water bodies were sampled) but small compared to the resolution of the radar might be poorly sampled by coring techniques: the radar resolution is equal to one-quarter of the radar wavelength, λ (λ/4 is equal to 0.84 m at 50 MHz or 0.42 m at 100 MHz in cold ice (Reference Sheriff and GeldartSheriff and Geldert, 1995, p. 172–175)). To produce ice with the water content we infer at Falljökull, 7–10 spherical water bodies of 0.1 m radius are required per cubic metre, or 780–1000 of 0.01 m radius, assuming that there is no water in the vein system or in other inclusions. We therefore postulate that the existence of centimetre- to decimetre-scale water bodies may explain the difference between the two types of measurements. Borehole video observations at Falljökull (Reference HiattHiatt, 1998) and elsewhere (Reference PohjolaPohjola, 1994) support the existence of such voids in temperate ice: at Storglaciaren they are estimated to provide an apparent void ratio of ∼ 1.3% (Reference PohjolaPohjola, 1994).

Theoretical considerations suggest that the water content of ice should increase with depth due to the increased heat released by ice deformation (Reference Vallon, Petit and FabreVallon and others, 1976), and indeed this trend was seen at Uvérsbreen (Reference Hamran, Aarholt, Hagen and MoHamran and others, 1996). However, we observe the opposite trend at Falljökull (layers 3 and 4). Furthermore, measurements on a core taken in the French Alps show decreasing water content close to the bed (Reference Vallon, Petit and FabreVallon and others, 1976). The presence of these layers with decreasing water content at Falljökull could be due to a progressive reduction in the presence of small connected voids in the glacier available to be filled by the water system due to (i) the expected arborescent nature of the water system with depth tending to localize water in discrete channels, and (ii) an increased rate of closure of voids at depth due to higher normal and shear stresses, and hence ice-deformation rates.

There are a number of important implications of these results:

1. (1) The large variations in water content will create layers of softer ice within the glacier. While some of the englacial water is probably contained within small pockets of water rather than at grain boundaries, any water within the ice structure enhances sliding between grains and softens the ice. At constant temperature and applied stress the strain rate is increased by ∼3.8 times for each 1% increase in water content (Reference DuvalDuval, 1977). We suggest that the bulk ice water content at Falljökull can be as high as 3–4% or as low as 0.1%. Extrapolation of Duval’s results would suggest the wettest ice could be up to 11–15 times softer than the driest ice.

2. (2) The water-content profile shows a sharp increase at 28 m depth from 0.23–0.34% to 3.0–4.1%. We interpret this increase as marking the level of the piezometric surface. There must therefore be sufficient connected void space within the glacier for the ice bulk water content to react to basal water pressure. At the time of our survey this void space was storing substantial volumes of water. Reference Fountain and WalderFountain and Walder (1998) calculate that for a 100 m thick glacier a macroporosity of only 0.1% in hydraulic communication with the basal water system is equivalent to a 0.1 m thick layer of water stored at the bed. They further suggest that this could be important in storing the early-season excess of meltwater. Our water-content profile suggests the ice at Falljökull has a substantially higher water content. Our model layer 2 contains the water equivalent of a layer at least 1.8 m thick at the glacier base.

3. (3) The high water content in temperate ice substantially reduces the velocity of radar propagation from that of cold ice. Studies where a cold-ice velocity is used to calculate the depth of temperate ice may be in error. Using a cold-ice velocity (0.168 m ns⁻¹) rather than our depth-averaged velocity (0.156 m ns⁻¹) would result in overestimating the glacier depth by ∼7%.

4. (4) The rapid variation in water content with depth we observe suggests that refraction of radar signals is likely. This means that assumptions of straight-line travel for radar surveys may be invalid. Such variation also requires caution when calculating the depth to englacial features on radar profiles.

5. (5) Interpretation of radar profiles requires migration to place reflectors in their correct geometric position. This geometric correction depends on the radar propagation velocity, typically taken as a constant value (e.g. Reference Fountain and JacobelFountain and Jacobel, 1997; Reference Welch, Pfeffer, Harper and HumphreyWelch and others, 1998). Our results suggest that the velocity varies with depth, and therefore that a layered model is required.

6. (6) The velocity of P- and S-waves in temperate ice depends sensitively on the amount of liquid water at grain boundaries (Reference RothlisbergerRöthlisberger, 1972). Thus our results and cautions will apply not only to radar but also to seismic surveys of temperate glaciers.