Lakes and subglacial hydrological networks around Dome C, East Antarctica

Rémy, Frédérique; Testut, Laurent; Legrésy, B.; Forieri, A.; Bianchi, C.; Tabacco, Ignazio

doi:10.3189/172756403781815799

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…1). The unusually high concentration of subglacial lakes in this area was first observed during UK Scott Polar Research Institute/US National Science Foundation/Technical University of Denmark (SPRI/NSF/TUD) surveys during the 1970s (Oswald and Robin, 1973; Siegert and others, 1996, 2001, 2005) and subsequently confirmed by an Italian survey of the same region (Rémy and others, 2003; Fig. 1) and the UTIG/SOAR data (Carter and others, 2007; Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Using radar-sounding data to identify the distribution and sources of subglacial water: application to Dome C, East Antarctica

et al. 2009

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ABSTRACT. Basal radar reflectivity is the most important measurement for the detection of subglacial water. However, dielectric loss in the overlying ice column complicates the determination of basal reflectivity. Dielectric attenuation is a function of ice temperature and impurity concentration. Temperature distribution is a function of climate history, basal heat flow and vertical strain rate, all of which can be partially inferred from the structure of dated internal layers. Using 11 dated layers, isotope records from Dome C, East Antarctica, and a model of the spatial variation of geothermal flux, we calculate the vertical strain rate and accumulation-rate history, allowing identification of areas where the basal melt rate exceeds 1.5 mm a . The inferred basal melt at these locations is not possible without enhanced geothermal flux. We demonstrate how radar-sounding data can provide both input and verification for a self-consistent model of vertical strain, vertical temperature distribution and meltwater distribution.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Using radar-sounding data to identify the distribution and sources of subglacial water: application to Dome C, East Antarctica

et al. 2009

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“…34 Ma, after ice cap onset or younger). These depressions may represent preferential accumulation zones fed by a hydrological subglacial network (Rémy et al 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiography and tectonic setting of the subglacial lake district between Vostok and Belgica subglacial highlands (Antarctica)

Tabacco

Cianfarra

Forieri

et al. 2006

Geophysical Journal International

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We present the interpretation of 11 radio echo-sounding (RES) missions carried out over the\ud Vostok–Dome Concordia region during the Italian Antarctic expeditions in the period 1995–\ud 2001. The extension and the density of the radar data in the surveyed area allowed to reconstruct\ud a reliable subglacial morphology and to identify four relevant morphological structures namely:\ud the Aurora trench, the Concordia trench, the Concordia ridge and the South Hills. These\ud structures show evidence compatible with the presence of tectonic features. Morphological\ud considerations indicate their development in Cenozoic time. Hybrid cellular automata (HCA)-\ud based numerical modelling allowed to justify a possible role played by the tectonics of the\ud Aurora and Concordia trench evolution. This was accomplished by matching the bed profiles\ud along opportunely projected sections with the modelled surfaces as derived by the activity of\ud normal faults with variable surfaces within the continental crust. The Vostok–Dome C region\ud is characterized by a large number of subglacial lakes. From the analysis of basal reflected\ud power echo, we identified 14 new lakes and obtained information about their physiography as\ud well as their possible relations with tectonics.We propose a grouping of subglacial lakes on the\ud base of their physiography and geological setting, namely relief lakes, basin lakes and trench\ud lakes. Relief lakes located in the Belgica subglacial highlands and are characterized by sharp\ud and steep symmetric edges, suggesting a maximum water depth of the order of 100 m. Their\ud origin may well relate to localized, positive geothermal flux anomalies. Basin lakes located\ud in the Vincennes subglacial basin and are characterized by wider dimension that allow the\ud development of well-defined, flat ice surface anomalies. Trench lakes characterize the Aurora\ud and Concordia trenches as the possible effect of normal fault activity

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“…This region is associated with a combina-tion of three different lake producing environments: a major ice divide, a prominent subglacial basin, and a dissected highland. In this region, the lake classification algorithm has verified Lake Concordia [Tikku et al, 2002], Lake Vincennes [Remy et al, 2003] and three smaller NSF/SPRI/ TUD lakes (Figure 9a). In addition, the algorithm has extended the boundary of NSF/SPRI/TUD Lake 14 to create Horseshoe Lake (Figure 1).…”

Section: Dome C: Aurora Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radar‐based subglacial lake classification in Antarctica

Carter

Blankenship

Peters

et al. 2007

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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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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Lakes and subglacial hydrological networks around Dome C, East Antarctica

Cited by 10 publications

References 14 publications

Using radar-sounding data to identify the distribution and sources of subglacial water: application to Dome C, East Antarctica

Using radar-sounding data to identify the distribution and sources of subglacial water: application to Dome C, East Antarctica

Physiography and tectonic setting of the subglacial lake district between Vostok and Belgica subglacial highlands (Antarctica)

Radar‐based subglacial lake classification in Antarctica

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