A novel hyperspectral system for high resolution imaging of ice cores: Application to light-absorbing impurities and ice structure

Abstract

Paleoclimatic information recorded in polar and mountain glaciers is fundamental to study climate and environmental changes. New advanced techniques can be developed to improve the accuracy of ice core measurements, and to store the retrieved information. In this context, we developed a novel system based on a hyperspectral imaging sensor to analyse optical properties of ice cores in a non-destructive way. The system is composed of a high-precision linear stage which embeds a hyperspectral imaging sensor and a halogen light source. It was designed to collect high resolution hyperspectral images of ice cores in the 380–1000 nm spectral range with a dedicated software. The system has been tested on an ice core extracted from the Adamello glacier (Eastern Alps, Italy). Different narrow-band and broad-band spectral descriptors were computed in order to analyse the optical properties of ice and impurities enclosed in ice layers. This system can be coupled with traditional techniques applied to ice cores, while predictive algorithms can be developed to estimate key variables in ice cores at a very high spatial and spectral resolution. We believe that hyperspectral imaging offers great potential for improving the analysis of ice cores in the next years and for guaranteeing the preservation of ice core records over time.