Assigned Session: #AGM28: Generic Meeting Session
Integrating radar and multi-sensor approaches for debris-covered glacier studies: insights from the Forca glacier (Italy)
Abstract ID: 28.7431 | Accepted as Poster | Poster | 2025-02-28 12:45 - 14:15 | Ágnes‐Heller‐Haus/Small Lecture Room
Paolo Perret (0)
Perret, Paolo (1,2), Lodigiani, Martina (1), Troilo, Fabrizio (1), Di Sopra, Pietro (1), Mondardini, Luca (1,3), Boffelli, William (1), Nicora, Maddalena (1), Perruchon, Valentina (4), Silvestri, Lorenzo (2), Zucca, Francesco (5), Pasian, Marco (2)
Paolo Perret ((0) Fondazione Montagna sicura, Località Villard de la Palud 1, 11013, Courmayeur, Italy, IT)
Perret, Paolo (1,2), Lodigiani, Martina (1), Troilo, Fabrizio (1), Di Sopra, Pietro (1), Mondardini, Luca (1,3), Boffelli, William (1), Nicora, Maddalena (1), Perruchon, Valentina (4), Silvestri, Lorenzo (2), Zucca, Francesco (5), Pasian, Marco (2)
(0) Fondazione Montagna sicura, Località Villard de la Palud 1, 11013, Courmayeur, Italy, IT
(1) Fondazione Montagna sicura, Località Villard de la Palud 1, 11013, Courmayeur, Italy, IT
(2) Dept. of Electrical, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy, IT
(3) Dept. of Computer Science "Giovanni degli Antoni", University of Milan, Via Celoria 18, 20133 Milano, Italy, IT
(4) Dept. of Earth Sciences, University of Turin, Via Valperga Caluso, 35, 10125, Torino, Italy, IT
(5) Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 7, 27100 Pavia, Italy, IT
(2) Dept. of Electrical, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy, IT
(3) Dept. of Computer Science "Giovanni degli Antoni", University of Milan, Via Celoria 18, 20133 Milano, Italy, IT
(4) Dept. of Earth Sciences, University of Turin, Via Valperga Caluso, 35, 10125, Torino, Italy, IT
(5) Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 7, 27100 Pavia, Italy, IT
Debris-covered glaciers represent a significant challenge in glaciology due to the difficulty of distinguishing buried ice from surrounding debris-covered terrain. This issue frequently leads to incomplete glacier inventories, as standard remote sensing methods struggle to accurately delineate these features. Such limitations are evident in regions rich of debris-covered glacier, like Karakoram and Alps, where the amount of ice is often underestimated or misclassified. The need for advanced techniques to identify and map these glaciers is critical particularly for hydrological and climatic studies, as debris cover influences glacier dynamics and melt rates.
The Forca glacier, located on the Italian side of Matterhorn, exemplifies the challenges associated with mapping this type of glaciers. Forca glacier’s morphology has been significantly influenced by events such as the 1943 rockfall, which deposited over 240000 m³ of debris, further complicating its identification and classification. Sections of the glacier beneath debris layers have often been omitted in inventories, despite some evidences of underlying ice documented through historical and recent field investigations.
In order to explore its complex stratigraphy, the Snowave radar system was deployed during field campaigns in February and July 2024. Snowave uses a vector network analyzer (VNA) with a single transmitting antenna and two receiving antennas operating at 300 MHz, and positioned at different baselines on the ground. The antennas are custom-designed capacitive-loaded planar inverted-F antennas (PIFAs), specifically developed at this frequency to balance penetration depth, spatial resolution, and portability. The dual-receiver configuration enables the simultaneous determination of depth and dielectric constant in the medium without relying on external information or prior assumptions, as required by traditional Ground Penetrating Radars.
Radar reflections revealed layers attributed to snow (4 m, only in February), debris (4–6 m), and ice (30–36 m). Measured dielectric constants ranged from 20 to 30, exceeding expected values. Laboratory measurements on collected rock samples (gneiss and schists) conducted using an open-ended coaxial probe yielded dielectric constant values of around 5. This difference and the high values measured in situ are likely due to liquid water within the debris matrix, influencing the electromagnetic response.
Complementary geophysical and remote sensing analyses supported these findings. Seismic surveys confirmed both the rocks-ice and the ice-bedrock interface, while repeated UAV-based high-resolution digital surface models and orthophotos enabled mapping of glacier extents and dynamics.
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