We derive the surface and basal radar reflectance and backscatter coefficients of the southern McMurdo Ice Shelf (SMIS) and part of the nearby Ross Ice Shelf (RIS), Antarctica, from radar statistical reconnaissance using a 60-MHZ airborne survey. The surface coefficients are further inverted in terms of snow density and roughness, providing a spatial distribution of the processes contributing to the surface boundary conditions. We disentangle the basal coefficients from surface transmission losses, and we provide the basal coherent content, an indicator of the boundary geometric disorder that is also self-corrected from englacial attenuation. The basal radar properties exhibit sharp gradients along specific iso-depths, suggesting an abrupt modification of the ice composition and geometric structure. We interpret this behavior as locations where the pressure-melting point is reached, outlining fields of freezing and melting ice. Basal steps are observed at both SMIS and RIS, suggesting a common geometric expression of widespread basal processes. This technique offers a simultaneous view of both the surface and basal boundary conditions to help investigate the ice-shelf stability, while its application to airborne data significantly improves coverage of the difficult-to-observe ice–ocean boundary. It also provides constraints on thermohaline circulation in ice shelves cavities, which are analogs for ice-covered ocean worlds.

我们使用60-MHZ机载调查从雷达统计侦察中得出了南麦克默多冰架（SMIS）和附近的罗斯冰架（RIS）的一部分的表面和基础雷达反射率以及南极洲的一部分。表面系数在积雪密度和粗糙度方面进一步反转，从而提供了有助于表面边界条件的过程的空间分布。我们从表面传输损耗中解开了基础系数，并提供了基础相干含量，这是边界几何无序的指标，该指标也可以根据冰川衰减自动校正。基础雷达的特性沿特定的等深线显示出陡峭的梯度，这表明冰成分和几何结构发生了突然的变化。我们将这种行为解释为达到压力熔点的位置，概述了冰冻和融化的场。在SMIS和RIS上都观察到了基础台阶，这表明广泛的基础过程具有共同的几何表达。这项技术同时提供了地表和基础边界条件的视图，有助于研究冰架的稳定性，同时将其应用于航空数据显着提高了难以观测的冰海边界的覆盖范围。它还限制了冰架空腔中的热盐循环，这类似于冰覆海洋世界。这项技术同时提供了地表和基础边界条件的视图，有助于研究冰架的稳定性，同时将其应用于航空数据显着提高了难以观测的冰海边界的覆盖范围。它还限制了冰架空腔中的热盐循环，这类似于冰覆海洋世界。这项技术同时提供了地表和基础边界条件的视图，有助于研究冰架的稳定性，同时将其应用于航空数据显着提高了难以观测的冰海边界的覆盖范围。它还限制了冰架空腔中的热盐循环，这类似于冰覆海洋世界。