Ross Ice Shelf in situ radio-frequency ice attenuation

Understand

We have measured the in situ average electric field attenuation length for radio-frequency signals broadcast vertically through the Ross Ice Shelf.

• We chose a location, Moore Embayment, south of Minna Bluff, known for its high reflectivity at the ice-sea interface.
• We confirmed specular reflection and used the return pulses to measure the average attenuation length from 75-1250 MHz over the round-trip distance of 1155 m.
• We find the average electric field attenuation length to vary from 500 m at 75 MHz to 300 m at 1250 MHz, with an experimental uncertainty of 55 to 15 m.