Non-contact measurement system for hot water drilled ice boreholes

McAfee, Carson W.I. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6454-3512; Rix, Julius ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8048-9445; Quirk, Sean J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7114-4472; Anker, Paul G.D. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4359-4342; Brisbourne, Alex M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9887-7120; Makinson, Keith ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5791-1767. 2021 Non-contact measurement system for hot water drilled ice boreholes [in special issue: Drilling through the Ice] Annals of Glaciology, 62 (85-86). 223-232. https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2020.85

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Abstract/Summary

A programmable borehole measurement system was deployed in hot water drilled ice holes during the ‘Bed Access and Monitoring of Ice Sheet History’ (BEAMISH) project to drill to the bed of the Rutford Ice Stream in West Antarctica. This system operates autonomously (no live data) after deployment, and records borehole diameter (non-contact measurement), water column pressure, heading and inclination. Three cameras, two sideways looking and one vertical, are also included for visual inspection of hole integrity and sediments. The system is small, lightweight (~35.5 kg) and low power using only 6 ‘D’ cell sized lithium batteries, making it ideal for transport and use in remote field sites. The system is 2.81 m long and 165 mm in diameter, and can be deployed attached to the drill hose for measurements during drilling or on its own deployment line afterwards. The full system is discussed in detail, highlighting design strengths and weaknesses. Data from the BEAMISH project are also presented in the form of camera images showing hole integrity, and sensor data used to calculate borehole diameter through the full length of the hole. These data are used to show confidence in hole verticality and subsurface cavity development and connection.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2020.85
ISSN:	0260-3055
Additional Keywords:	Glaciological instruments and methods, Ice engineering, Remote sensing, Subglacial lakes
Date made live:	25 Jan 2021 16:26 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/528234

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2020.85

ISSN:

0260-3055

Additional Keywords:

Glaciological instruments and methods, Ice engineering, Remote sensing, Subglacial lakes

Date made live:

25 Jan 2021 16:26 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/528234