Ultrasonic and seismic constraints on crystallographic preferred orientations of the Priestley Glacier shear margin, Antarctica

Abstract

Abstract. Crystallographic preferred orientations (CPOs) are particularly important in controlling the mechanical properties of glacial shear margins. Logistical and safety considerations often make direct sampling of shear margins difficult, and geophysical measurements are commonly used to constrain the CPOs. We present here the first direct comparison of seismic and ultrasonic data with measured CPOs in a polar shear margin. The measured CPO from ice samples from a 58 m deep borehole in the left lateral shear margin of the Priestley Glacier, Antarctica, is dominated by horizontal c axes aligned sub-perpendicularly to flow. A vertical-seismic-profile experiment with hammer shots up to 50 m away from the borehole, in four different azimuthal directions, shows velocity anisotropy of both P waves and S waves. Matching P-wave data to the anisotropy corresponding to CPO models defined by horizontally aligned c axes gives two possible solutions for the c-axis azimuth, one of which matches the c-axis measurements. If both P-wave and S-wave data are used, there is one best fit for the azimuth and intensity of c-axis alignment that matches the measurements well. Azimuthal P-wave and S-wave ultrasonic data recorded in the laboratory on the ice core show clear anisotropy of P-wave and S-wave velocities in the horizontal plane that match that predicted from the CPO of the samples. With quality data, azimuthal increments of 30∘ or less will constrain well the orientation and intensity of c-axis alignment. Our experiments provide a good framework for planning seismic surveys aimed at constraining the anisotropy of shear margins.

Elastic wave propagation in anisotropic polycrystals: inferring physical properties of glacier ice

“…phase-velocity dispersion due to grain scattering is negligible). The source signal pulse used to generate our velocity dataset [37] had a dominant frequency of 1 MHz, resulting in a dominant wavelength of approximately 3.8 mm in the three samples. With an average grain size among the samples of approximately 1 mm [48], the effect of grain scattering on measured phase velocities cannot be entirely neglected.…”

“…the horizontal xfalse^–yfalse^ plane in figures 2 and 4 a – c ). We refer the reader to Lutz et al [37] for further details on the experiments, but note that uncertainties in the measured velocities justify the above-mentioned equal weighting (βi=1).…”

“…Due to the above-mentioned discrepancy found between modelled and observed angular-mean velocities when using the B68 parameters, Lutz et al [37] proposed replacing the absolute velocities (Vi) with the angular anomalies (i.e. subtracting the mean velocity) δVifalse(ϕnfalse)=Vifalse(ϕnfalse)−1N∑n=1NVifalse(ϕnfalse),when determining the best-fit ODF.…”

“…subtracting the mean velocity) δVifalse(ϕnfalse)=Vifalse(ϕnfalse)−1N∑n=1NVifalse(ϕnfalse),when determining the best-fit ODF. For consistency with Lutz et al [37], and for a robust gradient descent of J given boldgB68, we too, therefore, replaced Vi with δVi in equation (3.3) when inferring bold-italicψboldfalse^ given boldgB68.…”

“…Also investigated extensively is the possibility of non-destructively inferring the c-axis ODF of ice-core samples by measuring ultrasonic P- and S-wave velocities (or phase velocities ) through the samples at multiple orientations (figure 2) [37–43], a problem also of great interest in the broader material sciences community (see e.g. [44], and references therein).…”