Radar surveys across ice sheets typically measure numerous englacial layers that can often be regarded as isochrones. Such layers are valuable for extrapolating age–depth relationships away from ice-core locations, reconstructing palaeoaccumulation variability, and investigating past ice-sheet dynamics. However, the use of englacial layers in Antarctica has been hampered by underdeveloped techniques for characterising layer continuity and geometry over large distances, with techniques developed independently and little opportunity for inter-comparison of results. In this paper, we present a methodology to assess the performance of automated layer-tracking and layer-dip-estimation algorithms through their ability to propagate a correct age–depth model. We use this to assess isochrone-tracking techniques applied to two test case datasets, selected from CreSIS MCoRDS data over Antarctica from a range of environments including low-dip, continuous layers and layers with terminations. We find that dip-estimation techniques are generally successful in tracking englacial dip but break down in the upper and lower regions of the ice sheet. The results of testing two previously published layer-tracking algorithms show that further development is required to attain a good constraint of age–depth relationships away from dated ice cores. We recommend that auto-tracking techniques focus on improved linking of picked stratigraphy across signal disruptions to enable accurate determination of the Antarctic-wide age–depth structure.

中文翻译：

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从冰盖上的雷达数据中提取冰层几何形状的自动化方法的比较

跨冰盖的雷达调查通常测量许多通常可以被视为等时线的冰层。这些层对于推断远离冰芯位置的年龄-深度关系、重建古堆积变化以及调查过去的冰盖动态非常有价值。然而，在南极洲使用冰川层受到了用于表征远距离层连续性和几何形状的不发达技术的阻碍，这些技术是独立开发的，几乎没有机会相互比较结果。在本文中，我们提出了一种方法，通过它们传播正确的年龄深度模型的能力来评估自动层跟踪和层倾估计算法的性能。我们使用它来评估应用于两个测试用例数据集的等时跟踪技术，从南极洲的 CreSIS MCoRDS 数据中选择，这些数据来自一系列环境，包括低倾角、连续层和带端接的层。我们发现倾角估计技术在追踪冰期倾角方面通常是成功的，但在冰盖的上部和下部区域会失效。测试两个先前发布的层跟踪算法的结果表明，需要进一步的开发来获得远离过时冰芯的年龄-深度关系的良好约束。我们建议自动跟踪技术侧重于改进跨信号中断的拾取地层的联系，以准确确定南极范围内的年龄-深度结构。我们发现倾角估计技术在追踪冰期倾角方面通常是成功的，但在冰盖的上部和下部区域会失效。测试两个先前发布的层跟踪算法的结果表明，需要进一步的开发来获得远离过时冰芯的年龄-深度关系的良好约束。我们建议自动跟踪技术侧重于改进跨信号中断的拾取地层的联系，以准确确定南极范围内的年龄-深度结构。我们发现倾角估计技术在追踪冰期倾角方面通常是成功的，但在冰盖的上部和下部区域会失效。测试两个先前发布的层跟踪算法的结果表明，需要进一步的开发来获得远离过时冰芯的年龄-深度关系的良好约束。我们建议自动跟踪技术侧重于改进跨信号中断的拾取地层的联系，以准确确定南极范围内的年龄-深度结构。测试两个先前发布的层跟踪算法的结果表明，需要进一步的开发来获得远离过时冰芯的年龄-深度关系的良好约束。我们建议自动跟踪技术侧重于改进跨信号中断的拾取地层的联系，以准确确定南极范围内的年龄-深度结构。测试两个先前发布的层跟踪算法的结果表明，需要进一步的开发来获得远离过时冰芯的年龄-深度关系的良好约束。我们建议自动跟踪技术侧重于改进跨信号中断的拾取地层的联系，以准确确定南极范围内的年龄-深度结构。