Glacier flow measurement and radio-echo sounding at Aurora Peak, Alaska, in 2008

As part of a deep ice-core drilling project, GPS and ice-radar measurements were made in the vicinity of Aurora Peak, Alaska, USA. Surface and bed elevation maps were obtained over an area of 400m 700m, which includes the drilling site. Surface flow velocity was measured at 18 locations in the same area. The results showed that the drilling site was situated on a gentle north–south ridge with saddle-shaped surface geometry. The horizontal ice-flow velocity at the drilling site was <0.5ma and the ice generally flowed eastward and westward along the surface slope. The glacier bed slopes to the east and has more complex topography than the ice surface. The drilling site was situated above a bedrock dip, with an ice thickness of 252 10m. These data constitute important information for estimating the effect of ice flow to the ice core retrieved from the depth of up to 180.17m.