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Antarctica, the sixth continent, was discovered more than 160 years ago. Since then this large, mysterious continent of ice and penguins has attracted world interest. Scientific expeditions from various countries have begun to study the geographical and natural conditions of the icy continent. Systematic and comprehensive inves tigations in the Antarctic started in the middle of our century. In 1956 the First Soviet Antarctic Expedition headed to the coast of Antarctica. Their program included studies of the atmosphere, hydrosphere and cryosphere. Thirty years have since passed. Scientists have unveiled many secrets of Antarctica: significant geophysical processes have been investigated, and a large body of new information on the Antarctic weather, Southern Ocean hydrology and Antarctic glaciers has been obtained. We can now claim that the horizons of polar geo physics, oceanology, and particularly glaciology, have expanded. Scientific inves tigators have obtained new information about all Antarctic regions and thus have created the opportunity to use the Antarctic in the interests of mankind.
List of contents
1: A Brief Survey of the Earth's Ice Cover and Methods for its Investigation.- 1.1. The Geographical Distribution of Glaciers.- 1.2. Impact of Ice on Geophysical Processes.- 1.3. The Seismic Method.- 1.4. Gravitational and Magnetic Methods.- 1.5. Radar Sounding.- References: Chapter 1.- 2: Structure and Physical State of Glaciers.- 2.1. Internal Structure of Glaciers.- 2.2. Stratification and Temperature Regime of Glaciers.- 2.3. Glacier Regimen.- References: Chapter 2.- 3: Electromagnetic Wave Propagation in Ice.- 3.1. Crystalline Structure of Ice.- 3.2. The Electrical Properties of Monocrystalline Ice.- 3.3. Values of the Electrical Parameters.- 3.4. Pure Polycrystalline Ice.- 3.5. Impure Polycrystalline Ice.- 3.6. Snow.- 3.7. Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves in Glaciers.- References: Chapter 3.- 4: Equipment for Radar Sounding of Glaciers.- 4.1. Analysis.- 4.2. Estimation of Sounding Accuracy.- 4.3. Equipment to Measure the Thickness of Cold Glaciers.- 4.4. Equipment to Measure the Thickness of Temperate Glaciers.- 4.5. Radars to Study Internal Structure and State.- 4.6. Radars for Ice Movement Measurements.- 4.7. Laser Technique.- 4.8. Equipment of U.S.A., Denmark, and Great Britain for Radar Sounding of Cold Glaciers.- 4.9. Equipment of U.S.A., Denmark, and Great Britain for Radar Sounding of Temperate Glaciers.- 4.10. Specialized Equipment.- References: Chapter 4.- 5: Methods of Acquisition and Processing of Data.- 5.1. Radioglaciological Data Recording.- 5.2. Digital and Photographic Recording of Radioglaciological Observations.- References: Chapter 5.- 6: Scientific Results in Radioglaciology.- 6.1. Direct Measurements of Permittivity and Conductivity.- 6.2. Electromagnetic Wave Speed and its Measurement.- 6.3. Lateral Waves.- 6.4. Absorption ofElectromagnetic Waves.- 6.5. Polarization Studies.- 6.6. Ice Thickness and Subglacial Topography.- 6.7. Subglacial Physiography and Geology.- 6.8. Radar Sounding of Internal Layering.- 6.9. Movement of Glaciers.- 6.10. Nature of the Basal Interface.- 6.11. Detection of Hidden Crevasses.- 6.12. Estimation of Glacial Water Content.- References: Chapter 6.- Conclusion.
