First results from radar profiles collected along the US-ITASE traverse from Taylor Dome to South Pole (2006–2008)

Authors

Brian C. Welch, St Olaf College
Robert W. Jacobel, St Olaf College
Steven A. Arcone, US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory

Date of this Version

2009

Comments

Published in Annals of Glaciology 50(51) 2009.

Abstract

The 2006/07 and 2007/08 US-ITASE traverses from Taylor Dome to South Pole in East Antarctica provided opportunities to survey the subglacial and englacial environments using 3MHz and 200MHz radar. We present first results of these new ground-based radar data. A prominent basal deformation layer indicates different ice-flow regimes for the northern and southern halves of the Byrd Glacier drainage. Buried dune stratigraphy that appears to be related to the megadunes towards the west occurs at depths of up to 1500 m. At least two new water-filled subglacial lakes were discovered, while two recently drained lakes identified from repeat ICESat surface elevation surveys appear to be devoid of water.