  Ultra high energy neutrinos may be observed in ice by the emission of
acoustic signals. The SPATS detector has investigated the possibility of
observing GZK-neutrinos in the clear ice near the South Pole at the IceCube
detector site. To explore other potential detection sites glacial ice in the
Alps and in Antarctica has been surveyed for its acoustical properties. The
purpose of the Enceladus Explorer (EnEx), on the other hand, is the search for
extraterrestrial life on the Saturn moon Enceladus. Here acoustics is used to
maneuver a subsurface probe inside the ice by trilateration of signals. A
system of acoustic transducers has been developed to study both applications.
In the south polar region of the moon Enceladus there are secluded crevasses.
These are filled with liquid water, probably heated by tidal forces due to the
short distance to Saturn. We intend to take a sample of water from these
crevasses by using a combination of a melt down and steering probe called
IceMole (IM). Maneuvering IM requires a good understanding of ice properties
such as the speed of sound, the attenuation of acoustic signals in ice, their
directional dependencies and their dependence on different frequencies. The
technology developed for this positioning system could also contribute to the
design of future large scale acoustic neutrino detectors. We present our
analysis methods and the findings on attenuation, sound speed, and frequency
response obtained at several sites in the Alps and Antarctica.
