Subglacial Lakes and the Onset of Ice Streaming: Recovery Lakes
- Lead PI: Dr. Robin E. Bell , , Michael Studinger
-
Unit Affiliation: Marine and Polar Geophysics, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO)
- November 2008 - October 2012
- Inactive
- Antarctica
- Project Type: Research
DESCRIPTION: The research will examine how subglacial lakes trigger faster ice streaming by using satellite imagery, aerogeophysical profiles, and continuous GPS sites. This will: enable the production of velocity fields; allow mapping of the ice thickness changes due to acceleration triggered thinning, basal melting, and freezing; determine the depth and tectonic orgin of the Recovery Lakes; and determine the stability of these lakes over time.
OUTCOMES: Found: that Recovery Lakes C and D contain very little water; the tectonic framework likely plays a major role in the lake's water budget abd basal lubrication of the ice stream; a gravity low, smooth bed, and deep source of magnetic anomalies suggest the presence of 1-3km of sediments beneath Lakes C and D; and that fill times for the lakes depends on if water is diverted by the Gamburtsev Mountains.