Automatic Detection of Subglacial Water Bodies in the AGAP Region, East Antarctica, Based on Short-Time Fourier Transform

Subglacial water bodies are critical components in analyzing the instability of Antarctic ice sheet. Their detection and identification normally rely on geophysical remote sensing methods such as airborne radar echo sounding (RES), ground seismic, satellite/airborne altimetry gravity surveys. In particular, RES surveys able to detect basal terrain with a relatively high accuracy that can assist mapping subglacial hydrology systems. Traditional processing for mostly their brightness radargrams hydraulic flatness. this study, we propose an automatic method main objective differentiate materials by quantitatively evaluating shape A-scope waveform near interface radargrams, which has been seldom investigated. We develop algorithm mainly based traditional short-time Fourier transform (STFT) quantify radargrams. Specifically, appropriate window width applied peak each radargram, STFT shows distinct contrasting frequency responses at ice-water ice-rock interface, is largely dependent upon different reflection characteristics interface. apply 882 collected Antarctic’s Gamburtsev Province (AGAP) East Antarctica. There 8822 identified A-scopes calculated value larger than set threshold, out overall 1,515,065 valid these Although only takes 0.58% population, they show exceptionally continuous distribution represent bodies. Through comprehensive comparison existing inventories lakes, successfully verify validity advantages our identifying using probability other theoretically highest along-track resolution. The signature obtained proposed joint time–frequency analysis provides new corridor investigation be further expanded multivariable deep learning approaches englacial material characterization, well mapping.