Timelapse camera, ice-penetrating radar and GPS data from Beardmore Glacier grounding line.

Timelapse camera, ice-penetrating radar and GPS data collected at the grounding zone of Beardmore Glacier, Transantarctic Mountains, Dec 2010. Two time-lapse cameras were deployed on the summit of Mt. Hope, looking down onto the grounding zone of the glacier. This site was also selected for installation of a fixed GPS basestation, which would provide a 'known point' against which the other (roving) GPS receivers could be calibrated. On the glacier, GPS receivers were installed at various locations in order to gather time-series location data. This data records movement of the glacier in (x, y, z) space and enables the calculation of the velocity and direction of ice flow, as well as any vertical movement (such as occurs on floating ice under the influence of tides). Low-frequency radar data was collected along transects both perpendicular and parallel to the direction of glacier flow. Using a purpose-built sledge pulled behind a skidoo, we towed a radar transmitter and receiver at constant velocity along pre-determined routes, recording the return signal on computer. Subsequent analysis of this data would allow an interpretation to be made of the thickness of the ice, and the location of change from grounded to floating ice. Instruments used were: Canon DSLR timelapse cameras; 25Mhz and
500Mhz EkkoPulse Pro radar system; 5 and 10MHz radio echo sounding system; Trimble 4700 & 5700 DGPS systems; snow stratigraphy equipment.