基于力学平衡原理,提出了一种联合验潮与GPS测量极区海冰厚度的新方法。由海冰上的GPS观测可得到海冰上表面高,验潮可提供海水面高,联合两种观测数据可计算得到海冰干弦高度,再结合海冰表面积雪厚度与冰雪密度数据,由力学平衡原理可构建海冰厚度的计算模型。根据这一原理,通过中国第28次南极科考队在中山站附近海冰上的实验,监测到了2012年9月22日至11月9日的海冰厚度变化。与钻孔实测冰厚相比,其总体精度达到了cm级,最大差异为8.9cm,差异的均方根为5.4cm。
Due to the tidal effect, sea ice in Polar Regions moves vertically along with the sea level. The elevation of the sea ice's upper surface can be detected by a GPS receiver, and sea level can be measured by tide observations. Thereupon, if we can provide the thickness of the snow cover over the sea ice, and the densities of snow and sea ice, then, according to the principle of hydrostatic balance, thickness of the sea ice can be derived by a combination of the GPS and tide observations. The experiment conducted by the 28th Chinese National Antarctic Expedition at Zhongshan Station in Antarctica during September 22, 2012 to November 9 indicates that the sea ice thickness can be estimated in centimeter- level accuracy by this approach. Compares to the measurements made by drilling holes, the maximum difference is 8.9 centimeters, the root mean square of the different values is 5.4 centimeters.