Neal Doolin ANTARCTIC GEOPHYSICS ALONG THE TRAVERSE EXPEDITION

Neal Doolin ANTARCTIC GEOPHYSICS ALONG THE TRAVERSE EXPEDITION (AGATE)

Recall � Gamma-ray bursts -> cosmic rays -> neutrinos � When neutrinos interact with atmospheric molecules, energy is released in the form of radio waves. � KU programs to detect neutrinos: ANITA and ARA

ANITA and ARA � Both ANITA and ARA experience a loss of signal due to the roughness of the surface. � ARA receives a further attenuated signal due to absorption by the ice. The field attenuation is directly related to the ice temperature.

Surface Roughness � Compare ratio of the intensities of direct sunlight to the reflection off of the surface (Data collected by ANITA). � Does the ratio deviate that predicted by the Fresnel model? � If so, is the deviation frequency dependent?

Surface Roughness � Scale and orientation of surface features can be deduced where ANITA sees solar reflections. � Scale – by the frequency where deviation begins � Orientation – by comparing ratio received in each polarization direction (horizontal/vertical)

Surface Roughness � Will compare the roughness values to a wind map. � If there is a good correlation we can use the wind maps to approximate surface roughness for the continent.

Wind Speed – Jan 09 E-W Wind Speed N-S Wind Speed

AGATE Premise � To improve ANITA and ARA, we need- �Better surface roughness approximations / hard data to back up approximations �Ice temperatures at varying locations to provide a comprehensive image of the attenuation length across the continent � We may additional items to our proposal based on the willingness of the contractors

AGATE � At least once yearly, a caravan of tractors traverses the “Antarctic highway” from Mc. Murdo Station to the South Pole to resupply the Pole station � ~1200 KM � Takes about a month � Planned proposal to take measurements along this traverse

AGATE Measurements � The caravan has two official stops – once for lunch and once for the evening. � At each stop (~32 km), drill 2 m deep into the ice and measure the temperature � 2 m – at this depth the temperature is less subject to daily fluctuation � Mount cameras on the tractors to take pictures of the surface

Pictures � Capture images every 15 minutes of the surface � Goal: Analyze images with an open source photogrammetric software and create a 3 D “image” or point cloud of the surface � This would allow for deduction of feature size and orientation of wind-blown features.

Software – insight 3 d

i 3 D � The point cloud can then be exported for data processing.

Hardware Needs � The drill and ice auger / extension � Reliable “plug-n-play” temperature sensor + data logger (including time, GPS location, etc) � Cameras that can �Autofocus (Sharper image = better for i 3 D) �withstand the temperatures �be polarized �be programmed/scheduled

2012 Goals � Meet the hardware/software needs necessary to write the proposal � Deploy prototype drills/augers and probes for stress testing

Questions