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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Keywords

  • subglacial lake
  • seismology
  • glaciology

Index Terms

  • Cryosphere: Glaciology
  • Exploration Geophysics: Seismic methods
  • Hydrology: Glaciology

Abstract

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 35, L23501, 5 PP., 2008
doi:10.1029/2008GL035704

Seismic detection of a subglacial lake near the South Pole, Antarctica

L. E. Peters

Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

S. Anandakrishnan

Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

C. W. Holland

Applied Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA

H. J. Horgan

Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

D. D. Blankenship

Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA

D. E. Voigt

Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

Seismic reflection data are analyzed to verify radar identification of a subglaical lake near the geographic South Pole. The seismic amplitude variation with offset (AVO) technique is applied to confirm the presence of extensive free water, and seismic imaging of the subsurface constrains lake depth and deeper subglacial structure in the region. This lake is at least 4.2 km wide (and likely as much as 10 km in diameter), is up to 32 ± 10 m deep, and occupies a basin of thick sedimentary strata. These results imply that extensive water storage is occurring in the South Pole region. The proximity of this lake to the Amundsen - Scott South Pole Station makes research drilling to sample the lake and underlying sediments feasible and supportable.

Received 14 August 2008; accepted 23 October 2008; published 3 December 2008.

Citation: Peters, L. E., S. Anandakrishnan, C. W. Holland, H. J. Horgan, D. D. Blankenship, and D. E. Voigt (2008), Seismic detection of a subglacial lake near the South Pole, Antarctica, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L23501, doi:10.1029/2008GL035704.

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