Formation factors of surface inflow to antarctic lakes of the Larsemann Hills oasis

Abstract

The study aims to identify formation factors of water inflow to the Antarctic lakes of the Larsemann Hills oasis (East Antarctica). The objects of study are 11 lakes of the oasis. The analysis was performed based on the expeditionary data of the Russian Antarctic Expedition (RAE): 63rd season (23 December 2017 – 3 February 2018), 64th season (12 January 2019 – 27 February 2019), 65th season (2 November 2019 – 24 March 2020). Data of lakes water level observations, aerial photography of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and route surveys are given, the results of identifying the boundaries of the lakes catchments are presented. The factors that determine the formation of water inflow to the lakes in this region were identified based on the analysis of the materials. The most significant are the meteorological conditions, the presence of perennial snowfields and glacial areas in the catchments, and the presence of lakes that can cause outburst flood. The seasonally thawed layer also has an impact on the formation of the inflow to the lakes. The vegetation cover is not so important for inflow formation in this region due to the physical and geographical conditions. As for anthropogenic activity, it mainly affects the environmental situation of the catchments and water quality, while the anthropogenic influence on the formation of water inflow to the lakes in the oasis is limited to the territories of polar stations. The factors identified should be taken into account in the further study of hydrological processes, the creation of models that describe them, and the organization of field observations.

UAVs for Science in Antarctica

“…The construction of basemaps in five sub-antarctic islands along the South Sandwich Arc through UAV surveys was a great help for geological interpretation related to volcanic activity and gas emissions to Liu et al (2021) [71]. Kuznetsova et al (2021) [72] developed UAV surveys in the Larsemann Hills area to map the boundaries of lakes to help identifying the factors that determine the formation of water inflow to the lakes. Surveys with several UAVs and sensors with multiple environmental goals were developed by Tovar-Sánchez et al [73] in Deception Island (South Shetlands).…”