Geodetic observations of ice flow velocities over the southern part of subglacial Lake Vostok, Antarctica, and their glaciological implications

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragen

Beitragende

  • J. Wendt - , Technische Universität Dresden (Autor:in)
  • R. Dietrich - , Professur für Geodätische Erdsystemforschung (Autor:in)
  • M. Fritsche - , Professur für Geodätische Erdsystemforschung (Autor:in)
  • A. Wendt - , Technische Universität Dresden (Autor:in)
  • A. Yuskevich - , AO Aerogeodeziya (Autor:in)
  • A. Kokhanov - , AO Aerogeodeziya (Autor:in)
  • A. Senatorov - , AO Aerogeodeziya (Autor:in)
  • V. Lukin - , Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (Autor:in)
  • K. Shibuya - , Research Organization of Information and Systems, National Institute of Polar Research (Autor:in)
  • K. Doi - , Research Organization of Information and Systems, National Institute of Polar Research (Autor:in)

Abstract

In the austral summer seasons 2001/02 and 2002/03, Global Positioning System (GPS) data were collected in the vicinity of Vostok Station to determine ice flow velocities over Lake Vostok. Ten GPS sites are located within a radius of 30 km around Vostok Station on floating ice as well as on grounded ice to the east and to the west of the lake. Additionally, a local deformation network around the ice core drilling site 5G-1 was installed.

The derived ice flow velocity for Vostok Station is 2.00 m a−1± 0.01 m a−1. Along the flowline of Vostok Station an extension rate of about 10−5 a−1 (equivalent to 1 cm km−1 a−1) was determined. This significant velocity gradient results in a new estimate of 28 700 years for the transit time of an ice particle along the Vostok flowline from the bedrock ridge in the southwest of the lake to the eastern shoreline. With these lower velocities compared to earlier studies and, hence, larger transit times the basal accretion rate is estimated to be 4 mm a−1 along a portion of the Vostok flowline. An assessment of the local accretion rate at Vostok Station using the observed geodetic quantities yields an accretion rate in the same order of magnitude. Furthermore, the comparison of our geodetic observations with results inferred from ice-penetrating radar data indicates that the ice flow may not have changed significantly for several thousand years.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)991-998
Seitenumfang8
FachzeitschriftGeophysical Journal International
Jahrgang166
Ausgabenummer3
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 1 Sept. 2006
Peer-Review-StatusNein

Externe IDs

Scopus 33747625880

Schlagworte

Fächergruppen, Lehr- und Forschungsbereiche, Fachgebiete nach Destatis

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete