Observation of an optical anisotropy in the deep glacial ice at the geographic South Pole using a laser dust logger

Rongen, Martin; Bay, Ryan Carlton; Blot, Summer

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2537-2020

Articles | Volume 14, issue 8

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2537-2020

© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2537-2020

© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 14, issue 8

Research article

|

03 Aug 2020

Research article |

| 03 Aug 2020

Observation of an optical anisotropy in the deep glacial ice at the geographic South Pole using a laser dust logger

Martin Rongen, Ryan Carlton Bay, and Summer Blot

Data sets

Laser Dust Logging of the South Pole Ice Core (SPICE) Ryan Bay https://doi.org/10.15784/601222

Short summary

We report on the observation of a directional anisotropy in the intensity of backscattered light. The measurement was performed using a laser dust logger in the SPC14 drill hole at the geographic South Pole. We find the anisotropy axis to be compatible with the ice flow direction. It is discussed in comparison to a similar anisotropy observed by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. In future, the measurement principle may provide a continuous record of crystal properties along entire drill holes.