Spatial Sciences on Ice: 50 years of Australian activities on the Amery Ice Shelf,East Antarctica

The Antarctic climate system involves many complex interactions between the atmosphere, oceans and ice and is sensitive to variations in these components. Ice shelves represent the ice–ocean–atmosphere interface of the Antarctic continent and are therefore very important indicators of climate change in the region. The Amery Ice Shelf is the largest ice shelf in East Antarctica and has been the focus of many scientific research projects over the past 50 years. This paper presents a history of the use of spatial science techniques from basic survey equipment to satellite systems in Australian research projects based on the Amery Ice Shelf (and surrounding glaciers) since 1955. The application of these spatial data to projects based primarily in the fields of geodesy, glaciology, climatology, and oceanography has allowed the measurement and monitoring of the physical, dynamic and environmental characteristics of this large and remote region. This new information provides scientists with a better understanding of the ice shelf/ocean/atmosphere system allowing future monitoring to observe the effects of global climate change.     

Amery冰架DEM及其海洋冰分布研究

Amery冰架是东南极最大的冰架。利用克里格插值法对Amery冰架地区的ICESat激光高度计数据进行空间插值,建立该地区的DEM。依据流体静力学平衡原理构建Amery冰架的冰厚度图,结合冰雷达测厚数据,获得了海洋冰的空间分布。结果显示Amery冰架下的海洋冰主要位于西北部,体积为2.38×1012m3,约占冰架总体积的5.6%,冰架最大厚度为230 m。     

基于特征跟踪方法的Amery冰架上游流速估算

冰川流速分析对于研究南极冰盖物质平衡、海平面上升和全球气候变化具有重要意义。以ALOS/PALSAR影像为数据源,采用SAR特征跟踪方法,结合DEM数据估算Amery冰架上游冰川流速。结果表明,Amery冰架上游主流线流速为540—720 m·a-1,冰川流速随海拔的降低逐渐减小。受基岩和两侧山体的影响,主流线流速大,越靠近两侧山体流速越小。这个结果与NASA 2000年利用SAR重复轨道干涉测量方法测定的流速接近。基于裸露岩石作为特征点的分析表明,该方法误差较小,获取的冰川流速比较可靠。     

Late Pleistocene and Holocene history of Lake Terrasovoje,Amery Oasis,East Antarctica,and its climatic and environmental implications

A 5.52 m long sediment sequence was recovered from Lake Terrasovoje, Amery Oasis, East Antarctica, in order to reconstruct the regional environmental history. The basal sediments, which are dominated by glacial and glaciofluvial clastic sediments, attest to a Late Pleistocene deglaciation of the lake basin. These sediments are overlain by 2.70 m of laminated algal and microbial mats and a few interspersed moss layers. Radiocarbon dating, conducted on bulk organic carbon of 12 samples throughout the organic sequence, provides a reliable chronology since the onset of biogenic accumulation at c. 12,400 cal. year BP. Successful diatom colonization, however, was probably hampered by extensive ice and snow cover on the lake and restricted input of nutrients until 10,200 cal. year BP. A subsequent increase of nutrient supply culminated between 8600 and 8200 cal. year BP and is related to warm summer temperatures and reduced albedo in the catchment. Warm conditions lasted until 6700 cal. year BP, supporting the establishment of a diatom community. Colder temperatures from 6700 cal. year BP culminated in several periods between 6200 and 3700 cal. year BP, when high amounts of sulphur and low abundances of diatoms were deposited due to a perennial ice and snow cover on the lake. During the late Holocene, relatively warm conditions between 3200 and 2300 cal. year BP and between 1500 to 1000 cal. year BP, respectively, indicated by high accumulation of organic matter and reducing bottom water conditions, were interrupted and followed by colder periods.     

Accumulation and geochemical evidence for the Little Ice Age episode in eastern Antarctica

Data on accumulation and concentration of chemical compounds recorded in an essentially unexplored area(Dome Argus)of the Indian Ocean sector of eastern Antarctica during the past 2,680 years(680 B.C. to 1999 A.D.) are presented. During the first 1, 700 years(680 B. C. to 1000 A. D.), the accumulation data shows a slightly decreasing trend, while chemical ions appear to be stable, representing a stable climatic condition. An intensive increasing trend of the accumulation occurred during the 12^th to 14^th century. The period from 15^th to 19^th century was characterized by a rapid reducing accumulation and concentrations of volatile compounds suffering post-depositional loss linked to sparse precipitation amount,which was temporally consistent with the Little Ice Age(LIA) episode. Comparison between observed accumulation rates with other eastern Antarctic ice cores show a consistent decreasing trend during LIA, while sea salt and dust-originated ions increased due to sea ice extent and intensified atmospheric transportation. Distribution of volcanic originated sulfate over the Antarctic continent show a significant change during the 15^th century, coincident with the onset of the LIA. These results are important for the assessment of Antarctic continent mass balance and associated interpretation of the Dome A deep ice core records.     

Potassium alum and aluminum sulfate micro-inclusions in polar ice from Dome Fuji,East Antarctica

Water-soluble trace constituents affect the physicochemical properties of polar ice. Their structural distribution provides important insights into the formation history of ice and inclusions. We report the first finding of KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O (potassium alum) and Al₂(SO₄)₃·nH₂O (aluminum sulfate) micro-inclusions in the Dome Fuji ice core, East Antartica, using a micro-Raman technique. Eutectic temperatures of these water-soluble species determined using thermal analysis were −0.4 °C for potassium alum and −8.0 °C for aluminum sulfate. Although the formation process of the aluminum-bearing sulfates remains unclear, the occurrence of these salts largely depends on ice depth.     

南极航空地球物理调查GPS数据后处理方法试验

监测和预测冰盖的行为和演化趋势对于研究未来全球气候及海平面变化具有重要的科学意义。地球物理探测成为极地现场考察中最重要的技术手段并取得巨大成功,而航空地球物理的独特优势成为极地科考最有发展潜力的研究方向。经过多年努力,中国成为第4个拥有极地航空地球物理科学考察能力的国家,并在中国第32次南极考察期间完成东南极伊丽莎白公主地(PEL)数千平方千米的航空地球物理探测任务。对于航空地球物理勘探而言,航空测点定位是首要而基础性的工作,本文针对航空地球物理测量中GPS定位数据后处理工作目标,通过一系列的方法和软件对比试验,评价GPS后处理精度误差和应用效果,在试验基础上开发相应的软件完成GPS数据和各地球物理方法数据的匹配连接,进而总结极地航空地球物理GPS数据后处理工作流程,形成实用化的极地航空地球物理GPS数据后处理方案,对后续工作具有指导意义。     

Cambro-Ordovician palaeomagnetic and geochronologic data from southern Victoria Land, Antarctica: revision of the Gondwana apparent polar wander path

We present new palaeomagnetic and isotopic data from the southern Victoria Land region of the Transantarctic Mountains in East Antarctica that constrain the palaeogeographic position of this region during the Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician. A new pole has been determined from a dioritic intrusion at Killer Ridge (⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar biotite age of 499 ± 3 Ma) and hornblende diorite dykes at Mt. Loke (21°E, 7°S, A 95 = 8°, N = 6 VGPs). The new Killer Ridge/Mt. Loke pole is indistinguishable from Gondwana Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician poles. Previously reported palaeomagnetic poles from southern Victoria Land have new isotopic age constraints that place them in the Late Cambrian rather than the Early Ordovician. Based upon the new palaeomagnetic and isotopic data, new Gondwana Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician mean poles have been calculated.     

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

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.     

The Weathering of Granodiorite Porphyry in the Thiel Mountains, Inland Antarctica

The weathering of granodiorite porphyry is examined in the extremely cold and dry environment of the inland part of Antarctica. Weathering features include granular disintegration, rock varnish, and sheeting. Sheeting has gradually proceeded since the exposing of the nunatak, but the other types of weathering have not actively advanced in recent times.
Granular disintegration primarily comprises the release of individual crystals. The mechanism of this release is that cracks are created along crystal boundaries and cleavages in phenocrysts mainly due to differential thermal expansion. Plagioclase and hypersthene are released more readily than quartz. Disintegration of plagioclase has produced many prism-shaped holes, 0.5 to 2.0 mm in length, while fine-grained quartz crystals, 0.05 to 0.1 mm in diameter, are incidentally released without cracking.
The reddish brown (10R4/4) rock varnishes result from oxidation and consist of limonite, which fills cracks and penetrates into crystals. Ferrous iron in hypersthene, biotite, ilmenite and magnetite is transformed into limonite by oxidation. Manganese is not found in the varnishes. Sulfur, which is important for oxidation and which may have originated from adhered snow, is concentrated on the surface of the rock.
Sheeting has precipitated rock falls, and has gradually formed a gray mosaic on the varnished wall. The sheeting was caused by gravitational body force, which is internal stress of the rock body due to the mass of the overburden.     

基于GPS的“雪龙”船冲击式破冰模式识别研究

"雪龙"号破冰船是我国目前唯一的极地考察船,破冰航行是极地船舶的重要特征之一。以"雪龙"号破冰船的GPS数据为基础,通过建立模型算法识别冲击式破冰这一特殊的航行状态,在整个中国第28次南极考察航次的数据分析中,整体识别率超过86.1%,识别正确率达到98%以上。利用此算法,在中国第27次南极考察航次的破冰识别率也超过85%,识别正确率达到93.5%。雪龙船两个航次实测GPS数据验证了本文算法的可用性,而破冰识别统计结果表明,不同航次的破冰模式具有较大的差异。     

Crustal model of the Bransfield Rift, West Antarctica, from detailed OBS refraction experiments

The first detailed deep seismic refraction study in the Bransfield Strait, West Antarctica, using sensitive OBSs (ocean bottom seismographs) was carried out successfully during the Antarctic summer of 1990/1991. The experiment focused on the deep crustal structure beneath the axis of the Bransfield Rift. Seismic profile DSS-20 was located exactly in the Bransfield Trough, which is suspected to be a young rift system. Along the profile, five OBSs were deployed at spacings of 50-70 km. 51 shots were fired along the 310 km profile. This paper gives the first presentation of the results. A detailed model of the crustal structure was obtained by modelling the observed traveltimes and amplitudes using a 2-D ray-tracing technique. The uppermost (sedimentary?) cover, with velocities of 2.0-5.5 km s⁻¹, reaches a depth of up to 8 km. Below this, a complex with velocities of 6.4-6.8 km s⁻¹ is observed. The presence of a high-velocity body, with V _p= 7.3-7.7 km s⁻¹, was detected in the 14-32 km depth range in the central part of the profile. These inhomogeneities can be interpreted as a stage of back-arc spreading and stretching of the continental crust, coinciding with the Deception-Bridgeman volcanic line. Velocities of 8.1 km s⁻¹, characteristic of the Moho, are observed along the profile at a depth of 30-32 km.     

The most extensive Holocene advance in the Stauning Alper, East Greenland, occurred in the Little Ice Age

We present glacial geologic and chronologic data concerning the Holocene ice extent in the Stauning Alper of East Greenland. The retreat of ice from the late-glacial position back into the mountains was accomplished by at least 11 000 cal years B.P. The only recorded advance after this time occurred during the past few centuries (the Little Ice Age). Therefore, we postulate that the Little Ice Age event represents the maximum Holocene ice extent in this part of East Greenland.