First Results from Mapperr: The Multi-Frequency Active Passive Polar Exploration Radar-Radiometer

Here we show the initial design and results from MAPPERR: The Multi-frequency Active Passive Polar Exploration Radar-Radiometer. MAPPERR addresses fundamental limitations in traditional ice-penetrating radar sounders and microwave radiometers stemming from non-unique contributions of different glaciological conditions. By utilizing active radar channels at 2, 22, 330, and 1000 MHz MAPPERR is designed to disentangle basal roughness and basal material conditions, while also providing important constraints on englacial temperature via measurements of attenuation. Passive radiometer channels at 330 and 1000 MHz provide additional constraints on englacial temperature via measurements of thermal emission and attenuation. Here, the system design is described and initial field results from campaigns in Svalbard, Iceland, and Antarctica are presented.