Low-frequency radar sounding of ice in East Antarctica and southern Greenland

We share data from a decameter-wavelength airborne radar sounder, the Warm Ice Sounding Explorer (WISE), that provides ice thickness in areas where radar signal penetration at higher frequencies is expected to be limited. We share results for three campaigns conducted in Greenland (2008, 2009, 2010) and two in Antarctica (2009, 2010). Comparisons with higher-frequency radar data indicate an accuracy of 55 m for ice-thickness measurements in Greenland and 25 m in Antarctica. We also estimate ice thickness of the Qassimiut lobe in southwest Greenland, where few ice-thickness measurements have been made, demonstrating that WISE penetrates in strongly scattering environments.