The ice-thickness distribution of Unteraargletscher, Switzerland

Abstract

AbstractResults from 15 years of work on glacier-bed mapping by radio-echo soundings on Finsteraar-, Lauteraar- and Unteraargletscher, Switzerland, are summarized, and a new and greatly improved map of the ice-thickness distribution presented. In contrast to the tongue of Unteraargletscher, its two main tributaries, Lauteraar and Finsteraar, are both deep and narrow, and ice-thickness determination depends on the detection of more than just the primary reflection. Migrating the data led to considerably improved bed determination. Wherever possible, additional information on ice thicknesses gained from numerous hot-water drillings to the glacier bed is used as an independent verification of the results of the radar measurements, and a fair agreement is found.