GPR data analysis for cold and warm ice detection and characterization in polythermal glaciers

We exploit the attribute analysis of GPR data to analyze the different EM responses of the ice of two alpine glaciers. We focus on frequency-related attributes to identify zones with higher attenuation of EM signal, which could be further related to higher water content and higher electrical conductivity. We succeeded in associating the scattering facies to warm ice zones of the Marmolada glacier, further linked to the thickness of the snow cover, and to a layer of mixed debris and ice of the Eastern Gran Zebrù glacier. Moreover, we conducted automated diffraction hyperbolas analyses to gain insight into the basal thermal conditions and glaciological facies.