Using sound to measure the thickness of sea ice

What is it about?

The thickness of sea ice is usually measured by drilling through the ice to obtain an ice core. But, sea ice has a very complex structure, and drilling through it has its own challenges. Remote methods of sea ice thickness measurement involve the use of embedded buoys or indirect measurements like sonar etc. But these techniques are not always very accurate. The current study shows how we can use acoustic techniques to accurately measure the depth of sea ice. It simulates ice sheets in the sea using a laboratory grown ice–water interface. This method compares the time delay in echoes from the water–ice and ice–air interfaces. It then uses this time-difference to estimate the thickness of the ice accurately. The researchers in the study also developed a model to ensure measurement accuracy despite the different factors that would affect such a measurement in a real-life setting.

Featured Image

Photo by Hubert Neufeld on Unsplash

Photo by Hubert Neufeld on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The ice in the polar regions is melting rapidly due to increasing global temperatures. Measuring the thickness of sea ice is critical to understanding how cli-mate change affects these regions. The new acoustic measurement technique provides a way to remotely measure the ice without compromising on accuracy. It will help people who live in these regions better plan for the pre-sent and the future. This information will also be crucial for maritime trade routes that pass through these regions. KEY TAKEAWAY Acoustic measurements can be successfully employed to accurately measure the thickness of sea ice in polar regions. This will help provide more information and more accurate information for climate predictions.