Abstract
During the 21st Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE 21, 2004/05), a radar dataset was collected using a ground-based radar system, along a traverse line from Zhongshan Station to DT401 (130 km from the Kunlun station). The internal layering structure and subglacial conditions were revealed along the radar profile. Continuous internal layers, disturbed layers, and echo-free zones (EFZs) along the profile were identified and classified, and the spatial distribution was presented. Based on recent surface ice velocity data, we found that the internal layers at a depth of 200–300 m in the upper ice sheet are continuous, smooth, and nearly parallel to the ice surface topography. In addition, the thick band of continuous layers changes little with increasing latitude. At depths below 300 m, the geometric structure of the internal layers and the vertical width of the EFZ band are influenced by the surface ice velocity and bed topography. The relatively high disturbance, layer discontinuity, and larger EFZ band width directly correspond to a higher surface ice velocity and a sharper bed topography. In particular, we found that at a depth of 650–950 km, the Lambert Glacier Rift in the Gamburtsev Mountains has a higher ice flow; moreover, the revealed internal layers are disturbed or broken, and the maximal vertical width of the EFZ band most likely exceeds 2000 m.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bell R E, Ferraccioli F, Creyts T T, et al. Widespread Persistent Thickening of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet by Freezing from the Base. Science,2011, 331(6024): 1592–1595.
Cui X B, Sun B, Tian G, et al. Preliminary results of ice radar investigation along the traverse between Zhongshan and Dome A in East Antarctic ice sheet: Ice thickness and subglacial topography. Chinese Science Bulletin, 2010, 55(24): 2715–2722.
Ding M, Xiao C, Li Y, et al. Spatial variability of surface mass balance along a traverse route from Zhongshan station to Dome A, Antarctica,2011,J. Glaciol., 57,658–666.
Drews R, Eisen O, Weikusat I,, et al. Layer disturbances and the radio-echo free zone in ice sheets. Cryosphere, 2009, 3:195–203.
Ferraccioli F, Finn C A, Jordan T A,et al. East Antarctic rifting triggers uplift of the Gamburtsev Mountains. Nature,2011, 479(7373):388–392.
Frank P.Antarctic subglacial conditions inferred from a hybrid ice sheet/ice stream model.Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2010, 295: 451–461.
Fretwell P, Pritchard H D, Vaughan D G, et al. Bedmap2: improved ice bed, surface and thickness datasets for Antarctica. The Cryosphere, 2013, 7(1):375–393.
Fujita S, Maeno H, Uratsuka S, et al. Nature of radio echo layering in the Antarctic ice sheet detected by a two-frequency experiment. J. Geophys. Res. 1999,104: 13013–13024.
Gudmundsson G H. Transmission of basal variability to a glacier surface.J. Geophys. Res., 2003.,108(B5), 2253, doi:https://doi.org/10.1029/2002JB002107.
Harrison C H. Radio echo sounding of horizontal layers in ice. J Glaciol, 1973, 12: 383–397.
Hindmarsh R C, Leysinger Vieli J M, Raymond M J, et al. Draping or overriding: The effect of horizontal stress gradients on internal layer architecture in ice sheets. J Geophys Res, 2006,111:F02018, doi:https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JF000309.
Kessler M A, Anderson R S, Briner J P. Fjord insertion into continental margins driven by topographic steering of ice. Nat Geosci. 2008, 1:365–369.
Leysinger Vieli G J, Hindmarsh R C, Siegert, M J. 3-D flow influences on radar layer stratigraphy. Annals of Glaciology, 2007, 46: 22–28.
Leysinger Vieli G J, Hindmarsh R C, Siegert M J et al. Time-dependence of the spatial pattern of accumulation rate in East Antarctica deduced from isochronic radar layers using a 3-D numerical ice flow model. Journal of Geophysical Research, 2011, 116(2), doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JF001785.
Liu H, Jezek K, Li B, et al. Radarsat Antarctic Mapping Project digital elevation model version 2. Boulder, CO: National Snow and Ice Data Center, 2001.
Matsuoka K, Power D, Fujita S, et al. Rapid development of anisotropic ice-crystal-alignment fabrics inferred from englacial radar polarimetry, central West Antarctica.Journal of Geophysical Research, 2012, 117(F03029), https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JF002440
Qin D and 8 others. Primary results of glaciological studies along an 1100km transect from Zhongshan station to Dome A, East Antarctic ice sheet. Ann. Glaciol., 2000, 31, 198–204.
Ren J W, Qin D H, Xiao C D. Preliminary results of the inland expeditions along a transect from the Zhongshan Station to Dome A, East Antarctica. J Glaciol Geocryol, 2001, 23: 51–56.
Rignot E, Mouginot J, Scheuchl B. Ice Flow of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Science, 2011, 333(6048): 1427–1430.
Rose K C, Ferraccioli F., Jamieson J,et al. Early east Antarctic ice sheet growth recorded in the landscape of the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains. Earth and planetary science letters.2013, 375:1–12
Shepherd A, Wingham D J.Antarctic glacier thinning, 1992–2003.Scottish Geographical Journal, 2008, 124(2–3): 154–164.
Siegert M J, Kwok R. Ice-sheet radar layering and the development of preferred crystal orientation fabrics between Lake Vostok and Ridge B, central East Antarctica. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 2000,179: 227–235.
Siegert M J, Hindmarsh R C, Corr H, et al. Subglacial Lake Ellsworth: a candidate for in situ exploration in West Antarctica. Geophysical Research Letters, 2004, 31, doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2004GL021477
Sun B, Siegert M J, Mudd S M, et al. The Gamburtsev Mountains and the origin and early evolution of the Antarctic Ice Sheet.Nature, 2009, 459: 690–693.
Tang X Y, Sun B, Zhang Z H, et al. Structure of the internal layers at Dome A, East Antarctica. Sci China Earth Sci., 2010, 54: 445–450.
Tang X Y, Sun Bo, Li Yuansheng, et al, Dome Argus: Ideal site for deep ice drilling, Advances in Polar Science, 2012, 23(1): 47–54.
Tang X, Sun B, Guo J, et al. A freeze-on ice zone along the Zhongshan-Kunlun ice sheet profile, East Antarctica, by a new ground-based ice-penetrating radar. Science bulletin, 2015, 60(5): 574–576.
Tang X Y, Guo J X, Sun B, et al. Ice thickness, internal layers, and surface and subglacial topography in the vicinity of Chinese Antarctic Taishan station in Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica. Applied Geophysics, 2016, 203, 13(1),DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-016-0540-6.
Vaughan D G, Corr H F, Doake C S, et al. Distortion of layers in ice revealed by ground-penetrating radar. Nature, 1999, 395: 323–326
Wang T, Sun B, Tang X, et al. Spatio-temporal variability of past accumulation rates inferred from isochronous layers at Dome A, East Antarctica. Annals of Glaciology, 2016, 57(73): 87–93.
Wen J., Jezek K C. Fricker H A, et al. Mass budgets of the Lambert, Mellor and Fisher Glaciers and basal fluxes beneath their flowbands on Amery Ice Shelf. Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences, 2007, 50(11): 693–1706.
Zhang S, Dongcheng E, Wang Z, et al. Ice velocity from static GPS observations along the transect from Zhongshan station to Dome A, East Antarctica. Ann Glaciol, 2008, 48(1): 113–118.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the 21st National Antarctic Research Expedition for their help in collecting field data. This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41876230, 41376192), the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2013CBA01804), and the Chinese Polar Environment Comprehensive Investigation & Assessment Programs (CHINARE2017-01-01).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This research is supported by the Funded by the Natural Science Foundation of China (41876230,41376192), the Major National Scientific Research Project on Global Changes (973 Project) (2013CBA01804), Comprehensive Investigation & Assessment Programs (CHINARE2017-01-01).
Author information
Tang Xueyuan, Assistant Professor at the Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai, China. He received his Ph.D. from Ocean University of China in 2011. Xueyuan is a researcher in the field of ice sheet geophysics and ice modeling. His research interests include ice sheet and glacier dynamics, numerical modeling of basal processes under ice sheets, geophysical methods for assessing internal structures, and ice-climate interactions.
Address: Jinqiao Road 451, B602, Shanghai, China
Post: 200136
Phone: 021-58712034
Sun Bo received his Ph.D. at the Lanzhou Institute of Glaciology and Geocryology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, in 1996. He is currently a professor at the Polar Research Institute of China. His primary research interest is ice sheet physics.
Phone: 021-58713308
Wang Tiantian received her Ph.D. at the Wuhan University in 2017. Tiantain currently works at the Shandong Agricultural University. Her primary research interest is glaciology.
Phone: 021-58715494
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tang, XY., Sun, B. & Wang, TT. Internal layering structure and subglacial conditions along a traverse line from Zhongshan Station to Dome A, East Antarctica, revealed by ground-based radar sounding. Appl. Geophys. 17, 870–878 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-020-0866-y
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-020-0866-y