A large deep freshwater lake beneath the ice of central East Antarctica

Kapitsa, A. P.; Ridley, Jeff; Robin, G. de Q.; Siegert, Martín J.; Zotikov, I. A.

doi:10.1038/381684a0

Cited by 335 publications

(286 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The equalization of pressure across this interface also results in a surface which is exceptionally smooth at meter to decameter wavelengths [Oswald and de Robin, 1973;Siegert, 2000;Siegert et al, 2005a;Peters et al, 2005] (Figure 1). The largest known subglacial lake, Lake Vostok (Figure 10b) attracted significant attention to Antarctic subglacial lakes when a reanalysis of seismic data collected in the 1960s [Kapitsa, 1966] combined with satellite observations of surface altimetry revealed a $500 m thick basal water layer [Kapitsa et al, 1996]. The synthesis of these observations with radar and gravity data has shown that subglacial lakes can be as spatially extensive and as deep as some of the world's largest surface lakes [Kapitsa et al, 1996;Studinger et al, 2004a;Filina et al, 2006].…”

Section: Previous Methods Of Lake Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radar‐based subglacial lake classification in Antarctica

Carter

Blankenship

Peters

et al. 2007

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

139

237

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[1] Subglacial lakes in East Antarctica can be separated into four categories specified by radar reflection properties. Definite lakes are brighter than their surroundings by at least 2 dB (relatively bright) and both are consistently reflective (specular) and have a reflection coefficient greater than À10 dB (absolutely bright). Dim lakes are relatively bright and specular but not absolutely bright, indicating nonsteady ice dynamics. Fuzzy lakes are both relatively and absolutely bright, but not specular, and may indicate saturated sediments or ''swamps.'' Indistinct lakes are absolutely bright and specular but no brighter than their surroundings. Lakes themselves and the different classes of lakes are not arranged randomly throughout Antarctica but are clustered around ice divides, ice stream onsets, and prominent bedrock troughs, with each cluster demonstrating a different characteristic lake classification distribution. The lake classification algorithm expands on previous studies and demonstrates a novel way to characterize icewater interactions in East Antarctica.

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Section: Previous Methods Of Lake Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radar‐based subglacial lake classification in Antarctica

Carter

Blankenship

Peters

et al. 2007

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

139

237

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“…The largest known subglacial lake is located beneath and up to 230 km to the north of Vostok Station, central East Antarctica (Figure 1). Analysis of radio-echo sounding (RES) data across Lake Vostok has indicated that it is situated within a deep subglacial topographic valley [e.g., Kapitsa et al, 1996]. The basal gradient on the Copyright 1998 by the American Geophysical Union.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An analysis of the ice‐sheet surface and subsurface topography above the Vostok Station subglacial lake, central East Antarctica

Siegert

Ridley²

1998

J. Geophys. Res.

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Abstract. Radio-echo sounding (RES) and satellite radar-altimeter data were analyzed in order to identify the surface and subsurface topography around the largest known subglacial lake, at Vostok Station, East Antarctica (named here as Lake Vostok). In doing so, a data set was established from which a qualitative description of the flow of ice across the lake was developed. Patterns of ice flow were constructed through consideration of (1) the ice-sheet surface from the satellite altimeter and (2) internal layering from RES. It is concluded that Lake Vostok influences the dynamics of the overriding ice. Specifically, although the flow of ice across the lake is dominated by the general eastward flow of the grounded ice sheet, a southward velocity component, caused by an ice-shelf-type ice-flow mechanism, is also present over the subglacial lake. A further 67 smaller subglacial lakes exist within central regions of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, occupying 5-10% of the ice-sheet base. Subglacial lakes may therefore exert a significant control on ice dynamics within central Antarctica.

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“…From the ice surface, the ice temperature increases up to a value that depends on the ice thickness, pressure and geothermal heat contributions. At Concordia Station (Dome C, Antarctica) the mean ice surface temperature is -55°C (annual average temperature of the site) while it reaches -3°C at 3225 m of ice depth (Epica 2004, Laurent A., 2003. Observing physical properties and DiElectric Profile (DEP) directly on the ice core obviously represent the best way to acquire this kind of information (Wolff 2004).…”

Section: Glaciological Radar 21 Summary Of Physical and Electromagnementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Year by year, polar research has become increasingly important because of global warming. Moreover, the discovery of numerous subglacial lake areas (water entrapped beneath the ice sheets) has attracted scientific interest in the possible existence of water circulation between lakes or beneath the ice (Kapitsa et al, 2006;Wingham et al, 2006;Bell et al, 2007). Recent studies in radar signal shape and amplitude could provide evidence of water circulation below the ice (Carter 2007, Oswald & Gogineni 2008.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%