An Antenna Solution for Glacial Environmental Sensor Networks

Antennas used in glacial environmental sensor networks and reported the last two decades have been reviewed. A link budget framework for designing such antenna systems is presented to design an system deployment at Thwaites glacier, Antarctica. Design details of left hand circularly polarized cross dipole antennas, one englacial probes other supraglacial surface receivers are presented. The probe a 3D bent that fits within borehole 8 cm diameter while providing 1 dBic gain 433 MHz ice. receiver planar printed 6.1 with quarter wave reflector. Both antennas provide 3 dB beamwidths least 50° xz yz vertical planes catering transmitter-receiver misalignments caused by extended deployments. displayed good circular polarization purity traits. axial ratio bandwidths both remained 54.9 %. total efficiencies were noted as 69.7 % 86.9 respectively. Lastly, band has validated achieving communication ranges up 2300 metres.