John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
Researchers at Stanford University's Radio Glaciology lab have developed a new open-source tool designed to make ice-penetrating radar systems more accessible and affordable. The Open Radar Code Architecture (ORCA) aims to assist scientists in studying rapidly changing ice sheets and their impact on global sea-level rise. This initiative is spearheaded by PhD students Thomas Teisberg and Anna Broome, who have made it possible for researchers without an engineering background to build both airborne and ground-based radars.
Teisberg explained the goal of ORCA: “We’re enabling groups to build exactly the right instrument for what they’re trying to do.” The system offers a significant cost reduction, with the lowest-cost version priced at $1,500 compared to traditional radars that can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Broome likened the modular design of ORCA to a kitchen mixer with various attachments, allowing customization based on specific research needs. This standardization also facilitates data sharing among glaciologists. Principal Investigator Dustin Schroeder expressed optimism about the potential for new experiments enabled by this system.
The research team has published a study in IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing detailing how to construct these tools. They emphasize the importance of understanding the land beneath ice sheets, which is crucial for predicting future changes in ice melt and sea-level rise.
Robert Hawley from Dartmouth College praised the open-source approach, noting it lowers barriers for researchers interested in building ice-penetrating radars. He stated, “By releasing their work as open-source software, Thomas and Anna have enabled a new generation of researchers.”
The development of ORCA was born out of Broome and Teisberg's individual projects aimed at mapping subglacial landscapes. Teisberg noted that combining efforts allowed them to streamline their work significantly.
The functionality of ORCA prototypes has been tested in locations such as Iceland, Svalbard, and Greenland's Summit Station. Schroeder described ORCA as "a gift to the glaciology community," highlighting its potential benefits for current and future students.
This research received support from NASA, NSF, NDSEG, Heising-Simons Foundation, TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy, Stanford University Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), and Stanford Data Science industrial affiliates program.
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