Water Detection in the Coastal Plains of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Using Helicopter-Borne Short Pulse Radar
Abstract
A helicopter-borne short-pulse radar survey of water resources was performed along the coastal plains of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in March 1988 to help evaluate the potential environmental impact of resource exploration. The surveys concentrated on the major rivers and a few lakes of the area and were performed at approximately 5-m altitude and 5-m/s flight speed. the radar antenna was externally mounted on the helicopter skids and emitted 6- to 7-ns pulses whose bandwidth was centered near 500 MHz. The locations of most surveys were determined by a satellite positioning system. The ice cover was generally frozen the river bed in all areas investigated, except for open water reaches within extensive icings that developed downstream from hot springs. The radar data revealed sub-ice water channels within the icings as well as water beneath ice mound features in icing areas in the delta regions of the major rivers. A systematic radar survey, augmented with drilling, of one chain of three mounds allowed the water volume to be estimated, but did not reveal any external source. It is speculated that a more intensive ground-based radar and drilling survey would clearly identify whether the water source was confined to the talik or was from an aquifer system. Keywords: Airborne radar; Freshwater ice; Short pulse radar; Water detection.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA208908
Entities
People
- Allan J. Delaney
- Darryl J. Calkins
- Steven A. Arcone
Organizations
- Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory