Fibre‑optic cable maps hidden crevasses in Gorner Glacier
Researchers from ETH Zurich used a single fibre‑optic cable laid on the Gorner Glacier in Valais to detect internal crevasses with high spatial resolution. The study found that more than eight percent of the ice volume in the measured area consists of ice‑ and air‑filled fractures, higher than expected. The method offers a cost‑effective alternative to deploying hundreds of seismometers.
Researchers from ETH Zurich used a single fibre‑optic cable laid on the Gorner Glacier in Valais to detect internal crevasses with high spatial resolution. The study found that more than eight percent of the ice volume in the measured area consists of ice‑ and air‑filled fractures, higher than expected. The method offers a cost‑effective alternative to deploying hundreds of seismometers.
This technique enhances Switzerland’s capacity to monitor glacier stability and contributes to national AI‑driven environmental monitoring initiatives.
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