Gravity models of the lower Taylor Valley, Antarctica

Hicks, S. R.; Bennett, D. J.

doi:10.1080/00288306.1981.10422746

Cited by 4 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…A maximum depth of 157.06 m was drilled without reaching bedrock, with the entire section comprised of permafrost containing a highly varied sequence of ice-cemented sands, silts, gravels, and diamictites (Talalay & Pyne, 2017). Succeeding geophysical studies (Hicks & Bennett, 1981;McGinnis, 1980) estimate a sediment thickness of ∼500 m below the drill site. DVDP -10 and 12 were drilled during the 1974 -1975 Antarctic field season.…”

Section: Previous Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This anomaly implies a maximum ice thickness of ∼1100 m at the time of the study, becoming progressively thinner towards the snout of the glacier, underlain by ∼600 m of 2.2. PREVIOUS STUDIES McGinnis (1980McGinnis ( , 1979 (solid line offshore) and gravity survey lines measured by Hicks and Bennett (1981) (solid lines onshore) and Sissons (1980) (circles). The ground contour at 250 masl is displayed (dashed line).…”

Section: Gravity Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The inset map (top left) displays the location of the Taylor Valley within the Ross Embayment. Figure from Hicks and Bennett (1981).…”

Section: Gravity Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most recent land-based gravity observations in the Taylor Valley are those collected by Hicks and Bennett (1981). This study established 154 gravity stations between the Suess Glacier and New Harbour (Figure 2.11) to determine depth to basement rock throughout the valley.…”

Section: Gravity Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To achieve these aims, new gravity data have been collected in the ∼80 km long icefree Taylor Valley of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, southern Victoria Land over a seven day period in the 2018/19 Austral Summer season. This is one of few regions with extensive bedrock exposure on the continent, where there is a reasonable dataset of existing land-based and aero gravity observations (Scheinert et al, 2016;Hicks & Bennett, 1981;Smithson, 1972) which can be incorporated into the study. Gravity measurements were made at spaced intervals along the valley and combined with more CHAPTER 1.…”

Section: Chapter 1 Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gravity constraints on structure of the East-West Antarctic lithospheric transition zone

Treweek¹

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The differing structural evolution of cratonic East Antarctica and younger West Antarctica has resulted in contrasting lithospheric and asthenospheric mantle viscosities between the two regions. Combined with poor constraints on the upper mantle viscosity structure of the continent, estimates of surface uplift in Antarctica predicted from models of glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) and observed by Global Satellite Navigation System (GNSS) contain large misfits. This thesis presents a gravity study ofthe lithospheric transition zone beneath the Taylor Valley, Antarctica, conducted to constrain the variation in lithological parameters such as viscosity and density of the upper mantle across this region. During this study 119 new gravity observations were collected in the ice-free regions of the Taylor Valley and amalgamated with 154 existing land-based gravity observations, analysed alongside aerogravity measurements of southern Victoria Land. Gravity data are used to construct 2D gravity models of the subsurface beneath this region. An eastward gradient in Bouguer anomalies of ~- 1.6 mGal/km is observed within the Taylor Valley. Models reveal thickening of the Moho from 23±5 km beneath the Ross Sea to 35±5 km in the Polar Plateau (dipping at 24.5±7.2°), and lithospheric mantle 100 km thicker in East Antarctica (~200±30 km) than West Antarctica (~90±30 km). Models of predicted surface uplift history are used to estimate an asthenospheric mantle viscosity of 2.1x1020 Pa.s at full surface recovery beneath the Ross Embayment, differing by ~14% from the viscosity at 50% recovery. The temperature contrast between lithospheric and asthenospheric mantle is estimated as ~400°C, equivalent to a viscosity that decreases by a factor of about 30 over the mantle boundary. Results demonstrate that the history of surface uplift in the study area may be complicated, resulting in observations of uplift, or subsidence, at GNSS stations. Future work should incorporate additional geophysical methods, such as seismicity and electrical resistivity, improving constraints on gravity models. A better understanding of the surface uplift (or subsidence) history in the Transantarctic Mountains is critical, with implications in reducing uncertainty in GIA models.

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Section: Previous Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Gravity Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The inset map (top left) displays the location of the Taylor Valley within the Ross Embayment. Figure from Hicks and Bennett (1981).…”

Section: Gravity Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Gravity Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Chapter 1 Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gravity constraints on structure of the East-West Antarctic lithospheric transition zone

Treweek¹

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Permafrost Hydrogeology of Taylor Valley, Antarctica: Insights From Deep Electrical Resistivity Tomography

Romano,

Fischanger,

Wilson

et al. 2024

Geophysical Research Letters

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Global warming has prompted globally widespread permafrost thawing, resulting in enhanced greenhouse gas release into the atmosphere. Studies conducted in the Northern Hemisphere reveal an alarming increase in permafrost thawing. However, similar data from Antarctica are scarce. We conducted a 2‐D Deep Electrical Resistivity Tomography (DERT) survey in Taylor Valley, Antarctica, to image the distribution of permafrost, its thicknesses, lower boundaries, and hydrogeology. Results show resistive, discontinuous domains that we suggest represent permafrost units. We also find highly conductive layers (5–10 Ω·m), between 300–350 m and 600–650 m below ground level and a shallower (∼50–100 m depth) conductive layer. The combined data set reveals a broad brine system in Taylor Valley, implying multi‐tiered groundwater circulation: a shallow, localized system linked with surface water bodies and a separate deeper, regional circulation system. The arrangement of these brines across different levels, coupled with the uneven permafrost distribution, underscores potential interplay between the two systems.

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Gravity models across the Transantarctic Mountain Front near New Harbour, McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

Bennett

Sissons²

1984

New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics

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Gravity models of the lower Taylor Valley, Antarctica

Cited by 4 publications

References 4 publications

Gravity constraints on structure of the East-West Antarctic lithospheric transition zone

Gravity constraints on structure of the East-West Antarctic lithospheric transition zone

Permafrost Hydrogeology of Taylor Valley, Antarctica: Insights From Deep Electrical Resistivity Tomography

Gravity models across the Transantarctic Mountain Front near New Harbour, McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

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