Tracking the Course of a Massive Iceberg's Movement
In the icy landscapes of Antarctica, a unique GPS tracker named ADIOS (Aircraft-Deployable Ice Observation System) is making a significant impact on understanding the behaviour of glaciers and predicting sea level changes.
Developed by Hilmar Gudmundsson, a researcher at the British Antarctic Survey, ADIOS is a 2.5-metre long javelin-like device, designed to be dropped from an aircraft. The GPS tracker is positioned towards the sharp nosecone-end and sits below the surface of the ice after landing. A polyethylene cushion and a spring protect ADIOS from impact forces, while a parachute slows and stabilises its descent.
ADIOS can remain uncovered and transmit for up to two years following thick snowfall, making it ideal for long-term monitoring. One ADIOS device is currently on display in the Museum's Antenna gallery, offering visitors a glimpse into this remarkable technology. Another ADIOS unit is on a rogue iceberg that broke off from the Pine Island Glacier (PIG), sending back live data about its position.
The Pine Island Glacier is significant because it is showing the biggest changes in ice movement and thickness among all icy regions on Earth. As glaciers move at an increased rate due to rising ocean temperatures, causing melting and faster ice stream flow, ADIOS plays a crucial role in tracking these changes.
By placing GPS trackers on glaciers, researchers can precisely measure how fast and in what direction the ice is moving. This data reveals how glaciers are responding to environmental conditions like temperature changes. The flow velocity of glacial ice streams is used to track rising sea levels, as when chunks of glaciers break off to form icebergs, GPS trackers help track these icebergs' paths and speeds once they enter the ocean.
Since glaciers store vast amounts of freshwater, their melting and ice loss directly impact sea level. GPS data helps quantify ice mass loss and, therefore, contributes to models forecasting sea level rise. Continuous GPS tracking offers real-time monitoring and long-term records that improve prediction models on how glaciers and associated ice masses will behave in a warming climate.
ADIOS is inspired by World War Two sonobuoy technology, with an antenna situated at the opposite end of the javelin allowing transmission, and four "snow brakes" keeping it above the snow surface. This robust design enables ADIOS to withstand the impact forces of up to 1200G and hard ice.
In summary, GPS trackers like ADIOS are critical tools in glaciology, enabling precise measurement of glacier and iceberg motion, which in turn informs our understanding of sea level changes caused by melting ice. As the Antarctic Ice Sheet remains the biggest unknown when predicting sea level change, technologies like ADIOS will continue to play a vital role in advancing our knowledge and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Science and environmental science are integrated in the use of the GPS tracker ADIOS, a device designed to monitor the behavior of glaciers and predict sea level changes. This technological innovation, reminiscent of World War Two sonobuoy technology, allows for precise measurements of glacier and iceberg motion, contributing significantly to models forecasting sea level rise, particularly in relation to climate-change-induced melting of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Gadgets like ADIOS not only help us understand the impacts of climate change on the environment but also offer potential solutions to mitigate these impacts.
