Geophysical exploration of a West Antarctic subglacial lake

John Woodward, Andy M. Smith, Martin Siegert, Neil Ross
2009
Geophysical exploration of a West Antarctic subglacial lake
This is a Full Scientific Report resulting from NERC Geophysical Equipment Facility Loan 838, principal investigator Dr John Woodward.

Abstract

NERC GPS units were deployed above Subglacial Lake Ellsworth during two austral summer field campaigns (2007/8 and 2008/9). During the first season four base stations were deployed. Two base station sites were reoccupied in the second field season. Base stations were used to monitor ice flow over SLE and to correct: i) stop-and-collect GPS data from a stake network positioned over and around SLE, ii) kinematic GPS data collected during radio-echo sounding profiles, and iii) stop-and-collect short occupancy records used to locate seismic shot hole positions. All activities requiring GPS positioning were successfully completed. Results from base stations and the stake survey show convergent ice flow over SLE, increasing ice flow along the lake length and greatest ice flow over the middle of the lake, decreasing towards the lateral margins. The GPS records were unable to detect a tidal cycle from the lake though may indicate gradual filling of the lake relative to the off-lake base station, though this could be an artefact of differential snow densification beneath the GPS units.

Full Report

PDF Geophysical exploration of a West Antarctic subglacial lake (1.4 Mb)
Cite as:
Woodward, J., Smith, A.M., Siegert, M., Ross, N., "Geophysical exploration of a West Antarctic subglacial lake", NERC Geophysical Equipment Facility, Scientific Report 838, 2009

Selected external publications resulting from this GEF loan

  1. Smith, A.M., Woodward, J., Ross, N., Bentley, M.J., Hodgson, D.A., Siegert, M.J. and King, E.C., 2018, Evidence for the long-term sedimentary environment in an Antarctic subglacial lake, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 504, p139-151, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.10.011
  2. Winter, K., Woodward, J., Ross, H., Dunning, S.A., Bingham, R.G., Corr, H.F.J. and Siegert, M.J., 2015, Airborne radar evidence for tributary flow switching in Institute Ice Stream, West Antarctica: Implications for ice sheet configuration and dynamics, Journal of Geophysical Research Earth Surface, doi: 10.1002/2015JF003518
  3. Woodward, J., Smith, A.M., Ross, N., Thoma, M., Corr, H.F.J., King, E.C., King, M., Grosfeld, K., Tranter, M. and Siegert, M.J., 2010, Location for direct access to Subglacial Lake Ellsworth: An assessment of geophysical data and modelling, Geophysical Research Letters, 37, L11501, doi: 10.1029/2010GL042884
  4. Ross, N., Jordan, T.A., Bingham, R.G., Corr, H.F.J., Ferraccioli, F., Le Brocq, A., Rippin, D.M., Wright, A.P. and Siegert, M.J., 2014, The Ellsworth Subglacial Highlands: Inception and retreat of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 126(1-2), pp3-15, doi: 10.1130/B30794.1
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