LAUSR

One proxy for global climate change is the change in the total mass of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Several complementary techniques have been used to estimate these changes with varying degrees of success. In this article, we describe a new approach that relies on the resonant behavior of ice masses. For very low electromagnetic (EM) frequencies (i.e., ≤2 kHz), pure ice acts like a strong dielectric resonator. Resonances can be excited in ice sheets by ambient EM noise from, for example, distant thunderstorms. The EM frequency spectrum measured in the vicinity of the ice mass should exhibit corresponding resonant frequencies. The evolution of the resonant modes over time can be used to monitor changes in ice mass and shape. The same approach can be, in principle, applied to monitor changes in the volume of fresh water reservoirs.