Polar Geophysics laboratory
Contact: Dr. Seth Campbell, scampb64@maine.edu
The ECS Polar Geophysics Lab focuses on studying complex Earth systems processes primarily in cold regions across the planet. Our team has a wide range of field geophysical instrumentation and resources to rely on for both classroom activities and research.
Airborne Earth Science Lab: We have multiple drone platforms and sensors including LiDAR, optical cameras for structure-from-motion (SfM) mapping, multi-spectral cameras, and an electromagnetic instrument (GEM-2 sensor) for terrestrial or airborne geophysical surveys. Existing drone platforms include a Freefly Alta X drone with RTK GPS precision and 35 pound payload capacity and a Aurelia X6 Max with 13 pound payload capacity The Routescene LiDAR can be mounted onto the AltaX or Aurelia X6 Max drones and record up to 1.28 million points per second at 2 cm accuracy using PPK or 1 cm accuracy using RTK georeferencing techniques. We also have five Trimble NetR9 survey-grade receivers, and four Emlid GPS receivers to support topographic or other precision surveys and seven older model Trimble survey-grade receivers to support research and education. We also own a RANGER System with Riegl VQ-580 II-S LiDAR which can be mounted to University of Maine’s Cessna 172 fixed-wing plane for long-duration and long-distance high-precision LiDAR surveying across New England.
Geophysical, Sampling, and Remote Sensing Systems: Our team has an extensive suite of ground-penetrating radar equipment appropriate for surveying snow, firn, ice, and geological material. This includes a Geophysical Survey Systems (GSSI) SIR-4000 control unit with 100 MHz, 200 MHz, 400 MHz, and 900 MHz antennas; a GSSI 200 MHz Hyper-stacking digital antenna and wireless controller; Sensors & Software 500 MHz and 1000 MHz multi-offset ground-penetrating radar systems which are appropriate for mapping spatial and temporal variations in radio wave velocities in the subsurface driven by density, water, or other material property variations; a laboratory-built upward-looking radar system within a 20-m long weatherproof track to capture spatial-temporal variations in velocity and water content within snowpack; a 3 x 7 x 1.2 m outside test basin designed and built for repeat multi-offset or common offset radar surveying over snow, sand, or other geological materials for research or education; a Blue Systems Ice Radar Acquisition System with 1, 5, 10, and 20 MHz center-frequency resistivity-loaded dipole antennas, capable of imaging glacier thicknesses up to 2000 m; two Autonomous Phase Sensitive radar (ApRES) systems (one in the MHz range and one in the GHz range) capable of quantifying snow, firn and glacier ice deformation processes. We also own a 24-channel Geometrics Geode Seismometer for seismic refraction and MASW data collection and analysis, and a Geophex GEM-2 Electromagnetic sensor for terrestrial and drone-acquired geophysical surveying. We own two Gamma Terrestrial Radar Interferometry systems which can be used for ground-based observations of surface deformation. We also own a Shaw Rock drill for geological rock sampling or borehole use and a Stamfli 20 m snow and firn mechanical drill for glaciological research.
Other Field Equipment: ECS has four 4-stroke Skidoo Expedition wide and long-track snowmobiles, two permanently stationed in Alaska for annual research and education initiatives and two at UMaine. All snowmachines are setup to tow or push field instruments such as radar systems. UMaine also owns multiple Honda 1000 and 2200 generators as well as Powerfilm 120 watt and Powerfilm 60 water solar panels for field charging of field equipment. The Powerfilm panels have been successfully used for multi-week data collection of geophysical and coring systems during multiple Alaska and Canada field seasons.
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