Magnetotelluric Survey in Glacial Terrain

In September 2025, while still with Phoenix Geophysics, I assisted with deploying an MT survey in British Columbia, in a helicopter-access-only area surrounded by glaciers.

The project area required adjusting station locations on the fly due to access constraints. The very first planned site turned out to be directly on the glacier — not a place where reliable MT data can be expected without additional equipment like electrode preamps, which we didn’t have. As we started relocating off the ice, it became clear quite quickly that crevasses were not something to challenge, and we had to call the helicopter back to move us.

During the first couple of days, we worked as a single team, focusing on getting everyone comfortable with MT setup and overnight QC. After that, we split into two crews: one covering the flatter ridge sections, while my crew handled the slopes — which often meant first identifying safe helicopter drop-off and pickup locations.

For most of the survey, the weather was cooperative and allowed steady progress. The last few sites, however, were more difficult due to rain and low ceiling. Some days were spent on standby, and on others we used short weather windows to access the slopes.

In glacier environments, logistics and safety considerations quickly take priority over initial plans, making flexibility in station placement essential. At the same time, on clear days, it’s one of the most impressive settings to work in.