High-resolution Ice Radar System Contributes to China's Antarctic Expedition
by Staff Writers
Beijing, China (SPX) Jul 12, 2023

During the latest Chinese Antarctica Research Expedition (CHINARE 39) which wrapped up in April, 2023, a high-resolution shallow ice radar system developed by the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) was applied to measure the ice sheet surrounding Zhongshan Station, where an airport on the ice is planned.

The obtained data demonstrate clear ice internal reflecting horizons (IRHs) with a resolution better than 10cm, providing valuable data support for the studies such as the formation of ice sheet, ice sheet stability, sea level change, the influence of ice sheet change on ocean circulation, and modern climate change.

The data also provide reference on the safety assessment of the planned airport at Zhongshan Station.

The ice radar system developed by the Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Radiation and Detection Technology under AIR has involved nine Antarctic scientific expeditions since the 26th Antarctic scientific expedition in 2009 and obtained a large number of measurement data under the ice, of which the maximum detection depth is more than 3,000 meters.

These data can be used for global climate change research, subglacial topography research in Grove Mountains and Kunlun Station and provide data support for the construction of Taishan station in Antarctica.

China has four research stations in Antarctica: Changcheng, Zhongshan, Taishan and Kunlun. A fifth is currently being constructed.

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