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Monitoring and imaging of Swiss glaciers using seismic interferometry
Several studies showed that seismic interferometry methods based on ambient noise measurements can be used in characterizing subglacial glacier processes. This project aims at investigating the use of seismic interferometry in imaging and monitoring of Swiss glaciers.
Keywords: Glacier Seismology, Seismology, Glaciology, Seismic Interferometry, DAS
Seismic interferometry methods based on ambient noise measurements revolutionized imaging studies of the Earth’s interior and monitoring of subsurface processes on the local and crustal level. Recently, several studies showed that cross-correlations of ambient seismic noise recordings near glaciers can be used in glacier imaging and monitoring of subglacial glacier properties:
Seismic interferometry was used to measure seismic velocity changes related to the seasonal melting of the Greenland ice-sheet (i.e., Mordret et al., 2016). Moreover, Sergeant et al. 2019 used the ambient noise cross-correlations to determine the ice thickness of the Glacier d’Argentière image the basal topography of the glacier (Figure 1).
Despite these successful studies, the application of the seismic noise interferometry in glacier regions remains challenging. Limited scattering in the ice and localized ambient noise sources generate directionality in wave propagation, an unfavorable condition for seismic noise interferometry (Preiswerk and Walter, 2018).
**Bibliography:**
Mordret, A., T. Mikesell, C. Harig, B. Lipovsky, and G. Prieto (2016), Monitoring southwest Greenland’s ice sheet melt with ambient seismic noise, Science advances, 2 (5), e1501538.
Preiswerk, L. E., and F. Walter (2018), High-frequency (>2 hz) ambient seismic noise on high-melt glaciers: Green’s function estimation and source characterization, Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 123 (8), doi: 10.1029/2017JF004498.
Sergeant A., Chmiel, M., Lindner, F., Walter, F., Chaput, J., Roux, P., Gimbert F., & Mordret, A. On the Green’s function emergence from interferometry of seismic wavefields generated in high-melt glaciers: implications for passive imaging and monitoring. Submitted to The Cryosphere, 2019.
Seismic interferometry methods based on ambient noise measurements revolutionized imaging studies of the Earth’s interior and monitoring of subsurface processes on the local and crustal level. Recently, several studies showed that cross-correlations of ambient seismic noise recordings near glaciers can be used in glacier imaging and monitoring of subglacial glacier properties: Seismic interferometry was used to measure seismic velocity changes related to the seasonal melting of the Greenland ice-sheet (i.e., Mordret et al., 2016). Moreover, Sergeant et al. 2019 used the ambient noise cross-correlations to determine the ice thickness of the Glacier d’Argentière image the basal topography of the glacier (Figure 1). Despite these successful studies, the application of the seismic noise interferometry in glacier regions remains challenging. Limited scattering in the ice and localized ambient noise sources generate directionality in wave propagation, an unfavorable condition for seismic noise interferometry (Preiswerk and Walter, 2018).
**Bibliography:**
Mordret, A., T. Mikesell, C. Harig, B. Lipovsky, and G. Prieto (2016), Monitoring southwest Greenland’s ice sheet melt with ambient seismic noise, Science advances, 2 (5), e1501538.
Preiswerk, L. E., and F. Walter (2018), High-frequency (>2 hz) ambient seismic noise on high-melt glaciers: Green’s function estimation and source characterization, Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 123 (8), doi: 10.1029/2017JF004498.
Sergeant A., Chmiel, M., Lindner, F., Walter, F., Chaput, J., Roux, P., Gimbert F., & Mordret, A. On the Green’s function emergence from interferometry of seismic wavefields generated in high-melt glaciers: implications for passive imaging and monitoring. Submitted to The Cryosphere, 2019.
This project aims at investigating the use of seismic interferometry methods applied to distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) measurements to image the base of Swiss glaciers and to monitor changes in englacial elastic properties. The student will work in ETH’s Glaciology group, at the Institute of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology. The student will be advised by Dr. Małgorzata Chmiel, who is specialized in seismic interferometry. The student will have an opportunity to deepen his/her knowledge in seismology and glaciology and learn seismic interferometry methods.
**Requirements:**
- Good programming skills (Python and/or Matlab),
- Understanding of seismic wave propagation,
- Good knowledge of written and spoken English.
**Advisor / Contact:** Dr. Małgorzata Chmiel: chmielm@ee.ethz.ch
**Project Type:** Master thesis (6 months, 30 KP ECTS)
This project aims at investigating the use of seismic interferometry methods applied to distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) measurements to image the base of Swiss glaciers and to monitor changes in englacial elastic properties. The student will work in ETH’s Glaciology group, at the Institute of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology. The student will be advised by Dr. Małgorzata Chmiel, who is specialized in seismic interferometry. The student will have an opportunity to deepen his/her knowledge in seismology and glaciology and learn seismic interferometry methods.
**Requirements:**
- Good programming skills (Python and/or Matlab), - Understanding of seismic wave propagation, - Good knowledge of written and spoken English.
**Advisor / Contact:** Dr. Małgorzata Chmiel: chmielm@ee.ethz.ch