As part of the international Ice Memory project, a team from the Department of Geosciences consisting of Mirko Pavoni and Stefano Castelli recently conducted an innovative survey on the Grand Combin glacier in Switzerland. The main purpose was to verify the thickness of the glacier using GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) technology.

For this research, two measurement methods were employed: the traditional ground-towed GPR and an advanced drone-mounted GPR system, the latter being part of the equipment at our Department of Geosciences at the University of Padua.

These investigations are of crucial importance: they aim to identify the most suitable areas for extracting ice cores. These valuable samples will subsequently be analyzed to reconstruct the paleoclimatic history of our planet, providing essential data for understanding climate change.

Ice Memory is indeed an international research project, recognized by UNESCO, with a dual objective: to collect and preserve ice samples taken from glaciers around the world that could disappear or greatly reduce due to global warming.

The use of drone GPR represents a significant step forward in glaciological research. This technology opens up new perspectives for mapping vast glacial areas, while offering greater safety for researchers. The operators, while on the glacier, no longer need to physically move across it to take measurements, significantly reducing associated risks.

Moreover, this innovative approach allows for the exploration of glacier areas that would be difficult or dangerous to access with traditional sled-based GPR methods. This significantly expands the scope and precision of our research, promising new discoveries in the field of glaciology and paleoclimatology.