Events

20.102023

Distributed Acousting Sensing experiment in Svalbard. Monitoring icequakes with a fibre-optic cable.

This September dr Wojciech Gajek started fieldworks within FROST: Fibre-optic sensing towards the improvement of environmental monitoring in Svalbard. The project was funded by SIOS (RIS ID 12246).

The project uses a novel technology of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) to monitor cryoseismological and environmental processes in Svalbard. DAS allows to measure strain rates in fibre-optic cables with a laser pulse. With a cable length of 9 km as used in FROST this may effectively substitute several hundreds of regular seismometers resulting in a game-changing resolution of seismic data.

Researchers from IG PAS, NORSAR and UiT Arctic Univeristy of Tromso expect that the new generation of seismic data allows for a better understanding of glacier- and permafrost-related seismicity providing insights into ongoing changes within glacial ice and thawing soil.

Next spring researchers will be back to Hornsund to observe the thrilling dynamics of glacial wake-up stimulated with fresh portions of meltwater.

 

  • The field team and 1 km of fibre-optic cable.

    The field team and 1 km of fibre-optic cable.

  • Deployment of the fibre-optic cable over the moraine.

    Deployment of the fibre-optic cable over the moraine.

  • The fibre at the vicinity of HSPA seismic array.

    The fibre at the vicinity of HSPA seismic array.

  • Transporting the cabledrums with sled on the Hans glacier.

    Transporting the cabledrums with sled on the Hans glacier.

  • Andreas Wuestefeld connects two sections of the cable.

    Andreas Wuestefeld connects two sections of the cable.

  • Fibre-optic cable on the Tuva glacier after first snowfall. Soon later cable was covered with more snow providing a better coupling.

    Fibre-optic cable on the Tuva glacier after first snowfall. Soon later cable was covered with more snow providing a better coupling.

  • Data is saved and viewed on-the-go in the environmental hut (next to Polish Polar Station Hornsund,) in which the interrogator is running.

    Data is saved and viewed on-the-go in the environmental hut (next to Polish Polar Station Hornsund,) in which the interrogator is running.

  • Waiting for GPS sync during a tap-test (simultaneous measurement of GPS position and cable offset togother with tapping on the cable to exceed a strong signal). The cable connectors are attached to the poles to make access in the winter feasible.

    Waiting for GPS sync during a tap-test (simultaneous measurement of GPS position and cable offset togother with tapping on the cable to exceed a strong signal). The cable connectors are attached to the poles to make access in the winter feasible.