Ice Cap Research Articles

Metagenomic analysis of antibiotic-resistance genes and viruses released from glaciers into downstream habitats

Glaciers serve as effective reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and viruses for millions of years. Climate change and anthropogenic activity have accelerated the melting of glaciers, but the patterns of release of ARGs and viruses from melting glaciers into downstream habitats remain unknown. We analyzed 171 metagenomic samples from glaciers and their downstream habitats and found that the abundance and diversity of ARGs were higher in glaciers (polar and plateau glaciers) than downstream habitats (Arctic Ocean, Qinghai Lake, and Yangtze River Basin), with the diversity of viruses having the opposite pattern. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were the main potential hosts of ARGs and viruses, and the richness of ARGs carried by the hosts was positively correlated with viral abundance, suggesting that the transmission of viruses in the hosts could disseminate ARGs. Source tracking indicated that >18 % of the ARGs and >25 % of the viruses detected in downstream habitats originated from glaciers, demonstrating that glaciers could be one of the potential sources of ARGs and viruses in downstream habitats. Increased solar radiation and emission of carbon dioxide mainly influenced the release of the ARGs and viruses from glaciers into downstream habitats. This study provides a systematic insight demonstrating the release of ARGs and viruses from the melting glaciers, potentially increasing ecological pressure.

Spatially heterogeneous effect of climate warming on the Arctic land ice

Abstract. Global warming has already substantially altered the Arctic cryosphere. Due to the Arctic warming amplification, the temperature is increasing more strongly, leading to pervasive changes in this area. Recent years were notably marked by melt records over the Greenland Ice Sheet, while other regions such as Svalbard seem to remain less influenced. This raises the question of the current state of the Greenland Ice Sheet and the various ice caps in the Arctic for which few studies are available. Here, we run the regional climate model (RCM) Modèle Atmosphérique Régional (MAR) at a resolution of 6 km over four different domains covering all Arctic land ice to produce a unified surface mass balance product from 1950 to the present day. We also compare our results to large-scale indices to better understand the heterogeneity of the evolutions across the Arctic and their links to recent climate change. We find a sharp decrease of surface mass balance (SMB) over the western Arctic (Canada and Greenland) in relationship with the atmospheric blocking situations that have become more frequent in summer, resulting in a 41 % increase of the melt rate since 1950. This increase is not seen over the Russian Arctic permanent ice areas, where melt rates have increased by only 3 % on average, illustrating a heterogeneity in the Arctic SMB response to global warming.

Unraveling the Genetic Threads of History: mtDNA HVS-I Analysis Reveals the Ancient Past of the Aburra Valley.

This article presents a comprehensive genetic study focused on pre-Hispanic individuals who inhabited the Aburrá Valley in Antioquia, Colombia, between the tenth and seventeenth centuries AD. Employing a genetic approach, the study analyzed maternal lineages using DNA samples obtained from skeletal remains. The results illuminate a remarkable degree of biological diversity within these populations and provide insights into their genetic connections with other ancient and indigenous groups across the American continent. The findings strongly support the widely accepted hypothesis that the migration of the first American settlers occurred through Beringia, a land bridge connecting Siberia to North America during the last Ice Age. Subsequently, these early settlers journeyed southward, crossing the North American ice cap. Of particular note, the study unveils the presence of ancestral lineages from Asian populations, which played a pivotal role in populating the Americas. The implications of these results extend beyond delineating migratory routes and settlement patterns of ancient populations. They also enrich our understanding of the genetic diversity inherent in indigenous populations of the region. By revealing the genetic heritage of pre-Hispanic individuals from the Aburrá Valley, this study offers valuable insights into the history of human migration and settlement in the Americas. Furthermore, it enhances our comprehension of the intricate genetic tapestry that characterizes indigenous communities in the area.

Spatial and Temporal Variation of Mars South Polar Ice Composition From Spectral Endmember Classification of CRISM Mapping Data

AbstractMultispectral mapping data from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) provide a unique opportunity to characterize south polar ice deposits at higher spectral sampling, spatial resolution, or spatiotemporal coverage than previous work. This new perspective can help constrain the nature and distribution of different mixtures of CO2 ice, H2O ice, and dust that influence the formation, evolution, and preservation of Mars climate records. We processed 1,103 CRISM observations spanning the southern summer of six Mars Years (MYs) through a combination of k‐means clustering and random forest classification. Using a set of 12 spectral endmembers directly tied to previous work with high‐resolution CRISM targeted data, we made a series of temporally restricted mosaics showing surface spectral variation over time. The mosaics show the effects of the MY 28 dust storm on the removal of the seasonal CO2 ice cap that year and reveal how this process differed from the years that followed. A mosaic showing residual ice surfaces displays broad agreement with previous compositional maps while resolving new details in the distribution of H2O ice‐rich material around the periphery of the bright CO2 ice cap. By showing how surface composition varies across a broad swath of the south polar region through time, the endmember set and classified mosaics produced in this work can provide critical context for future studies of the dynamic processes that shape south polar ice deposits.

Three Pleistocene glacial advances and a warm episode during MIS-3: Towards a more complete glacial history of the Pamir mountains

Determining the spatial and temporal variations of Pleistocene glaciations is key to understanding present-day climate-driven glacier changes. Glacial chronologies of high-mountain Asia, which are mostly based on cosmogenic 10Be exposure dating of moraine boulders, remain scarce and often inaccurate due to geologically induced age scatter. We present 53 new 10Be exposure ages from rockslides, glacial sediment deposits and glacial erosion surfaces in the southwestern Pamir. In conjunction with previously published 10Be data, we constrain the timing and extent of three major glacial stages in the Pamir. During the Middle Pleistocene, a continuous ice sheet covered most of the Pamir. This stage is older than 200 ka and may have occurred during Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 8, 10, or 12. The deep valleys of the western Pamir, which contrast with the eastern Pamir plateau, are partly attributed to Middle Pleistocene glacial erosion. Successively less extensive glacial advances occurred during MIS-4/5 (between 60 and 100 ka ago) and during MIS-2 (at 18–22 ka). The last glacial maximum was synchronous in most of the Pamir, except for prolonged glaciation of the Muztagh Ata ice cap until 14 ka ago. Similar to today, Late Pleistocene glaciers were precipitation-limited, with moisture mainly supplied by westerly winds. An episode of increased mass wasting (e.g. Zuvor rockslide: 34 ± 1 ka) and glacier surging correlates with a peak in δ18O values in the Guliya ice core and is attributed to a warmer climate.

Modelling the historical and future evolution of six ice masses in the Tien Shan, Central Asia, using a 3D ice-flow model

Abstract. In the Tien Shan, few modelling studies exist that examine in detail how individual ice bodies are responding to climate change. Nonetheless, earlier research demonstrated that the glacier response to climate change in this mountain range is heterogeneous. Here, we use several measurements and reconstructions of the ice thickness, surface elevation, surface mass balance, and ice temperature to model in depth six different ice bodies in the Kyrgyz Tien Shan: five valley glaciers and one ice cap. The selected ice masses are located in different sub-regions of the Tien Shan with different climatic and topographic settings, and they are all characterized by detailed recent glaciological measurements. A three-dimensional higher-order thermomechanical ice-flow model is calibrated and applied to simulate the evolution of the ice masses since the end of the Little Ice Age (1850) and to make a prognosis of the future evolution up to 2100 under different Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) climate scenarios. The results reveal a strong retreat of most of the ice masses under all climate scenarios, albeit with notable variations in both timing and magnitude. These can be related to the specific climate regime of each of the ice bodies and their geometry. Under a moderate warming scenario, the ice masses characterized by a limited elevation range undergo complete disappearance, whereas the glaciers with a larger elevation range manage to preserve some ice at the highest altitudes. Additionally, our findings indicate that glaciers that primarily receive precipitation during the late spring and summer months exhibit a more rapid retreat in response to climate change, while the glaciers experiencing higher precipitation levels or more winter precipitation remain for a longer duration. Projections concerning the overall glacier runoff reveal that the maximum water discharge from the ice masses is expected to occur around or prior to the middle of the 21st century and that the magnitude of this peak is contingent upon the climate scenario, with a higher warming scenario resulting in a higher peak.

Glacial secrets uncovered: Revealing the modes of survival of metabolically active microbial communities entrapped in polar glacial ice

Glacial secrets uncovered: Revealing the modes of survival of metabolically active microbial communities entrapped in polar glacial ice

Glacial-isostatic-adjustment strain rate–stress paradox in the Western Alps and impact on active faults and seismicity

Abstract. In many regions formerly glaciated during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) explains most of the measured uplift and deformation rates. GIA is also proposed as a key process contributing to fault activity and seismicity shortly after the LGM and potentially up to the present day. Here, we study the impact of GIA on present-day fault activity and seismicity in the Western Alps. We show that, in the upper crust, GIA induces horizontal compressive stress perturbations associated with horizontal extension rates. The latter agree with the observed geodetic strain rates and with the seismicity deformation patterns. Yet, in nearly all cases, the GIA stress perturbations tend to either inhibit fault slip or promote fault slip with the wrong mechanism compared to the seismicity deformation style. Thus, although GIA from the LGM explains a major part of the Western Alp geodetic strain rates, it does not drive or promote the observed seismicity (which must be driven by other processes). This apparent strain rate–stress paradox results from the gradual diminution over time of the finite shortening induced in the upper crust by the Würm ice cap load. A direct corollary of our results is that seismicity and seismic-hazard studies in the Western Alps cannot directly integrate geodetic velocities and strain rates but instead require detailed modeling of the GIA transient impact.

Brief communication: Measuring and modelling the ice thickness of the Grigoriev ice cap (Kyrgyzstan) and comparison with global datasets

Abstract. An accurate ice thickness distribution is crucial for correct projections of the future state of an ice mass. However, measuring the ice thickness with an in situ system is time-consuming and not scalable. Therefore, models have been developed to estimate the ice thickness without direct measurements. In this study, we reconstruct the ice thickness of the Grigoriev ice cap, Kyrgyzstan, from in situ observations and the yield stress method. We compare the results with data from six global ice thickness datasets composed without the use of our local measurements. The results highlight the limitations of these generic datasets primarily stemming from the subdivision of ice caps into distinct glaciers, the adoption of a (calibrated) creep parameter value, assumptions regarding ice mass flux, and errors regarding surface velocity observations. These shortcomings emphasize the importance of integrating local observations to calibrate models to achieve precise representations of ice thickness, particularly when dealing with smaller or slow-flowing cold ice caps, such as the Grigoriev ice cap.

Nature, culture and well-being: Exploring the historical significance of Rosario de la Frontera thermal baths

<p>The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked a significant turning point in global politics and the recognition of pressing environmental issues. This period witnessed the emergence of conferences addressing climate change and the adoption of measures to promote sustainable development. Bruno Latour’s book “We have never been modern” (1991) reflects on this historical moment, questioning the prevailing capitalist system and emphasizing the urgent need for a paradigm shift towards ecological principles. In the present context, there is a growing consensus on the need for immediate action to protect the environment. Rising sea levels, soil degradation, melting ice caps, and the impending extinction of species highlight the gravity of the ecological crisis we face. Latour’s concept of “living in times of ecological crisis” underscores the role of culture and its pursuit of abundance and comfort in contributing to this crisis. This study focuses on the thermal baths of Rosario de la Frontera in Salta, Argentina, during two distinct periods, 1826 and 1888. By examining this specific geographical location, the research aims to explore the complex relationship between culture and nature and uncover the motivations that shaped the societal mindset of the time. The study seeks to gain insights into the perceptions of well-being that influenced the development of certain inventions and the transformation of collective lifestyles, with enduring implications for the present day.</p>

Subaerial and subglacial seismic characteristics of the largest measured jökulhlaup from the eastern Skaftá cauldron, Iceland

Abstract. Subglacial floods cause seismic tremors that can be located and tracked in space and time using a seismic array. Here, we shed light on the generating mechanisms of the seismic signals observed during the largest measured flood from the eastern Skaftá cauldron in the Vatnajökull ice cap, Iceland. We track the propagation of the flood in 2015 using two seismic arrays and a local seismic network in combination with GPS, hydrological, and geochemical data. We find that as the water drained from the subglacial lake beneath the cauldron, families of icequakes were generated in the area around the cauldron, while the glacier surface gradually subsided by more than 100 m. We detected a several-hours-long, non-harmonic tremor and high-frequency transient events migrating downglacier, following the subglacial flood front. We suggest that this tremor is composed of repeating, closely spaced icequakes that were generated as the glacier was being lifted, cracked, and deformed, thus enabling the subglacial water flow. When the lake had largely drained, the pressure within the underlying hydrothermal system dropped. At this time, we recorded minute-long tremor bursts emanating from the cauldron area, followed by an hour-long harmonic tremor each. We interpret these as being caused by hydrothermal explosions in the geothermal system within the cauldron and as being vigorous boiling in the crustal rocks, respectively, which is an interpretation corroborated by floodwater geochemical signals. Finally, the flood also led to detectable tremor due to more energetic flow in the rapids near Sveinstindur in the Skaftá river. We conclude that the flood generated five different seismic signal types that can be associated with five different geophysical processes, including the wide spectrum from brittle failure and explosions to boiling and turbulent flow.

Glacier thinning, recession and advance, and the associated evolution of a glacial lake between 1966 and 2021 atAusterdalsbreen, westernNorway

AbstractThe Jostedalsbreen is the largest ice cap in Norway and mainland Europe. Rapid retreat of many of its outlet glaciers since the 2000s has led to the formation of several glacial lakes. Processes causing the formation and expansion of glacial lakes and their interaction with a glacier and terminal moraine have not been widely addressed yet. In this study, we investigate the degradation of the front of the southeast‐facing outlet glacier Austerdalsbreen. Based on a variety of remotely sensed data (UAV‐based and airborne orthophotos and DEMs, satellite images), we analyze the coincident glacial and proglacial changes of Austerdalsbreen and quantify the evolution of this transition zone during the last decades. In particular, we focus on the short‐term evolution of the glacial lake since 2010, we examine the context of a glacier advance in the 1990s, and we report long‐term changes by utilizing 1960s imagery. We discuss the evolution and conditions of Austerdalsbreen compared to other outlet glaciers of Jostedalsbreen. Overall, the glacier terminus has experienced a recession in the last decades. The 1990s terminus advance was more restricted than at other nearby outlet glaciers due to glacier surface debris cover, which is a critical factor for the glacier and lake evolution. However, in the most recent period, since 2012, a distinct expansion of a glacial lake is quantifiable. Since the rates of glacier surface lowering also considerably increased since approximately 2017 and the glacier retreated since the beginning of the 2000s with a clear maximum length decrease in 2015, we interpret the recently formed glacial lake as a contributory factor of glacial changes.

Seasonal Snowpack Microbial Ecology and Biogeochemistry on a High Arctic Ice Cap Reveals Negligible Autotrophic Activity During Spring and Summer Melt

AbstractSnowpack ecosystem studies are primarily derived from research on snow‐on‐soil ecosystems. Greater research attention needs to be directed to the study of glacial snow covers as most snow cover lies on glaciers and ice sheets. With rising temperatures, snowpacks are getting wetter, which can potentially give rise to biologically productive snowpacks. The present study set out to determine the linkage between the thermal evolution of a snowpack and the seasonal microbial ecology of snow. We present the first comprehensive study of the seasonal microbial activity and biogeochemistry within a melting glacial snowpack on a High Arctic ice cap, Foxfonna, in Svalbard. Nutrients from winter atmospheric bulk deposition were supplemented by dust fertilization and weathering processes. NH4+ and PO43− resources in the snow therefore reached their highest values during late June and early July, at 22 and 13.9 mg m−2, respectively. However, primary production did not respond to this nutrient resource due to an absence of autotrophs in the snowpack. The average autotrophic abundance on the ice cap throughout the melt season was 0.5 ± 2.7 cells mL−1. Instead, the microbial cell abundance was dominated by bacterial cells that increased from an average of (39 ± 19 cells mL−1) in June to (363 ± 595 cells mL−1) in early July. Thus, the total seasonal biological production on Foxfonna was estimated at 153 mg C m−2, and the glacial snowpack microbial ecosystem was identified as net‐heterotrophic. This work presents a seasonal “album” documenting the bacterial ecology of glacial snowpacks.

Dust source tracing and their transport mechanisms before monsoon season from three glaciers at the Tibetan Plateau: revelations from REE analysis and an indirect tracing approach.

Understanding the origins of Tibetan Plateau (TP) glacier dust is vital for glacier dynamics and regional climate understanding. In May 2016, snow pit samples were collected from glaciers on the TP: Qiyi (QY) in the north, Yuzhufeng (YZF) in the center, and Xiaodongkemadi (XDK) in the south. Rare earth element (REE) concentrations were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and near-surface PM10 concentrations were extracted from a dataset of Chinese near-surface PM10. Two tracing approaches were used: direct REE tracing and an indirect approach combining potential source contribution function (PSCF) and concentration-weighted trajectory (CWT). Both methods yielded consistent results. Pre-monsoon, TP surface soils, Taklimakan Desert, and Qaidam Basin contributed to glacier dust. Notably, central and southern glaciers showed Thar Desert influence, unlike the northern ones. Taklimakan and Thar Deserts were major contributors due to their substantial contribution and high dust concentration. Taklimakan dust, influenced by terrain and westerly winds, affected central and southern glaciers more than northern ones. Westerlies carried Thar Desert dust to the TP after it was uplifted by updrafts in northwest India, significantly affecting southern glaciers. Furthermore, comparing the two tracer methods, the indirect approach combining PSCF and CWT proved more effective for short-term dust source tracing.

IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FOOD SECURITY

Climate change is often associated with the melting of polar ice caps or the potential extinction of certain species. However, its consequences are much more extensive and ominous than commonly understood. One of the critical implications of climate change is its detrimental effect on food production and supply, posing a significant threat to global food security. As global temperatures rise and weather patterns shift, crop yields and productivity are increasingly compromised. This situation is exacerbated by the heightened likelihood and severity of adverse climate events and natural disasters. Furthermore, air pollution contributes to the decline in crop yields, particularly affecting staple foods like rice, soybeans, and wheat. Additionally, changing weather patterns intensify water scarcity, reduce livestock productivity, and impede food access and distribution. While short-term solutions can alleviate some of the pressure, a sustained global commitment is imperative to mitigate the effect of climate change on our food safety in the long run.

IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FOOD SECURITY

Climate change is often associated with the melting of polar ice caps or the potential extinction of certain species. However, its consequences are much more extensive and ominous than commonly understood. One of the critical implications of climate change is its detrimental effect on food production and supply, posing a significant threat to global food security. As global temperatures rise and weather patterns shift, crop yields and productivity are increasingly compromised. This situation is exacerbated by the heightened likelihood and severity of adverse climate events and natural disasters. Furthermore, air pollution contributes to the decline in crop yields, particularly affecting staple foods like rice, soybeans, and wheat. Additionally, changing weather patterns intensify water scarcity, reduce livestock productivity, and impede food access and distribution. While short-term solutions can alleviate some of the pressure, a sustained global commitment is imperative to mitigate the effect of climate change on our food safety in the long run. Keywords: climate change, food security, forest ecosystem, agriculture, livestock

From Global Warming to Global “Boiling” – UN Secretary General

The steady increase in average global temperatures, both on land and sea, coupled with an increasing frequency of extreme weather events is not only endangering ecosystems but now even threatening plants and animal species. Shrinking glaciers, dry spells, heat waves and forest fires compounded by ever increasing greenhouse gases synergistically escalate the problem. A 0.1°, 0.5°, 1.5° or 2°C rise in temperature may have profound effects. A half a degree or even a few tenths of a degree change may have a dramatic impact – causing dire water shortages, flooding and heat waves. Polar ice caps and coral reefs may be severely impacted by even a 0.5° C rise [1]. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report states that unparalleled climate changes caused by human activity has increased the planet’s temperature by 1.1°C [1].

Global Surface Winds and Aeolian Sediment Pathways on Mars From the Morphology of Barchan Dunes

AbstractIn the absence of consistent meteorological data on Mars, the morphology of dunes can be employed to study its atmosphere. Specifically, barchan dunes, which form under approximately unimodal winds, are reliable proxies for the dominant wind directions. Here, we characterize near‐surface winds on Mars from the morphology of >700,000 barchans mapped globally on the planet by a convolutional neural network. Barchan migration is predominantly aligned with known southern‐summer atmospheric circulation patterns—northerly at mid‐latitudes and cyclonic near the north pole—with the addition of an anti‐cyclonic north‐polar component that likely originates from winds emerging from the ice cap. Locally, migration directions deviate from regional trends in areas with high topographic roughness. Notably, obstacles <100 km such as impact craters are efficient at deflecting surface winds. Our database, which provides insights into planetary‐scale aeolian processes on modern‐day Mars, can be used to constrain global circulation models to assist with predictions for future missions.

Reconciling ice dynamics and bed topography with a versatile and fast ice thickness inversion

Abstract. We present a novel thickness inversion approach that leverages satellite products and state-of-the-art ice flow models to produce distributed maps of sub-glacial topography consistent with the dynamic state of a given glacier. While the method can use any complexity of ice flow physics as represented in ice dynamical models, it is computationally cheap and does not require bed observations as input, enabling applications on both local and large scales. Using the mismatch between observed and modelled rates of surface elevation change (dh/dt) as the misfit functional, iterative point-wise updates to an initial guess of bed topography are made, while mismatches between observed and modelled velocities are used to simultaneously infer basal friction. The final product of the inversion is not only a map of ice thickness, but is also a fully spun-up glacier model that can be run forward without requiring any further model relaxation. Here we present the method and use an artificial ice cap built inside a numerical model to test it and conduct sensitivity experiments. Even under a range of perturbations, the method is stable and fast. We also apply the approach to the tidewater glacier Kronebreen on Svalbard and finally benchmark it on glaciers from the Ice Thickness Models Intercomparison eXperiment (ITMIX, Farinotti et al., 2017), where we find excellent performance. Ultimately, our method shown here represents a fast way of inferring ice thickness where the final output forms a consistent picture of model physics, input observations and bed topography.

Range resolution enhancement of SHAllow RADar (SHARAD) data via bandwidth extrapolation technique: Enabling new features detection and improving geophysical investigation

The SHAllow RADar (SHARAD) is a subsurface sounding radar provided by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) as a facility instrument for NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) mission, the second longest-lived mission to orbit Mars after Mars Odyssey. Developed by an Italian-US Team, SHARAD was designed to investigate to depth of up to one kilometer in the Martian subsurface and to map dielectric discontinuities associated with compositional and/or structural changes. The radar mapping began in November 2006 and, after 16 years of operations, SHARAD has mapped most of the planet's surface (∼55%), contributing a data volume for the entire MRO mission that exceeds that of all the past Mars missions combined.Designed to complement the lower-frequency, relatively narrower bandwidth capability of the MARSIS sounding radar, SHARAD emits an 85μs, frequency-modulated (10 MHz) chirp at a central frequency of 20 MHz to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and achieve a finer resolution compared to MARSIS. On the ground, echoes recorded by the radar are range compressed using conventional pulse compression techniques yielding a nominal range resolution of 15 m (vacuum, 5–8 m in typical Martian materials). Additionally, synthetic aperture processing is performed in along-track to increase the resolution up to 300–500 m.Throughout the entire mission duration, SHARAD provided a diverse and extensive range of imaging data. It was able to observe the internal structures of Planum Boreum and Planum Australe, two icy deposits that contain the North and South Polar Layered Deposits (NPLD-SPLD), thought to contain valuable information about the planet's past climate. The radar unveiled the massive deposits of buried CO2 ice below the southern residual ice cap (SRIC), which confirmed the influence of the planet obliquity and insolation in the accumulation of dry ice. Furthermore, it revealed the intricate lava flows structures in the Tharsis Volcanic region, suggesting that the planet experienced deposition by multiple volcanic episodes.However, radar resolution often poses a limitation for subsurface investigations in many regions. Only recently, processing techniques have focused on enhancing SHARAD radargrams vertical resolution by implementing the Bandwidth Extrapolation (BWE) technique. This approach has demonstrated an improvement of the vertical resolution while preserving the time-of-arrival (TOA) and amplitude of the detected echoes. The resulting super-resolved data products exhibit better separation between radar returns, thus improving the overall understanding of the investigated terrains. The obtained results demonstrate the value of implementing the BWE techniques in the data processing pipeline whenever radar sounders are involved.