Airborne geophysical exploration of central East Antarctica
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Sch of Geosciences
Abstract
Summary in original application
Organisations
- University of Edinburgh (Lead Research Organisation)
- Polar Research Institute of China (Collaboration)
- DURHAM UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- University of Texas at Austin (Collaboration)
- Newcastle University (Collaboration)
- University of Bristol (Collaboration)
- Australian Antarctic Division (Collaboration)
- University of Delhi (Collaboration)
- Beijing Normal University (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- British Antarctic Survey (Collaboration)
Publications
Aitken A
(2016)
The Australo-Antarctic Columbia to Gondwana transition
in Gondwana Research
Aitken A
(2014)
The subglacial geology of Wilkes Land, East Antarctica
in Geophysical Research Letters
Aitken AR
(2016)
Repeated large-scale retreat and advance of Totten Glacier indicated by inland bed erosion.
in Nature
Bingham R
(2009)
Quantifying subglacial bed roughness in Antarctica: implications for ice-sheet dynamics and history
in Quaternary Science Reviews
Bo S
(2009)
The Gamburtsev mountains and the origin and early evolution of the Antarctic Ice Sheet.
in Nature
Carter S
(2009)
Dynamic distributed drainage implied by the flow evolution of the 1996-1998 Adventure Trench subglacial lake discharge
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Dow C
(2020)
Totten Glacier subglacial hydrology determined from geophysics and modeling
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Florindo, Fabio; Siegert, Martin J.
(2008)
Antarctic Climate Evolution
Florindo, Fabio; Siegert, Martin J.
(2008)
Antarctic Climate Evolution
Frederick B
(2016)
Distribution of subglacial sediments across the Wilkes Subglacial Basin, East Antarctica
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface
Related Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Award Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NE/F016646/1 | 31/08/2008 | 30/07/2012 | £1,217,552 | ||
| NE/F016646/2 | Transfer | NE/F016646/1 | 31/07/2012 | 29/09/2013 | £11,275 |
| Description | New bed data for East Antarctica. Radar data from our programme was submitted to the new BEDMAP2 depiction of subglacial Antarctica. It represents one of the major new datasets collected in Antarctica over the past 10 years, and has changed our appreciation of topography across of large regions of the Antarctic continent. Evidence for basal water flowing from the ice sheet interior to the ice margin. Knowing that subglacial lakes exist at the centre of East Antarctica, and that ice streams at the margin are warm based, we interrogated geophysical data to understand evidence for and against basal water flow from the interior to the edge of the ice sheet. This was possible as a consequence of the data collected, and has never been attempted before. We conclude that there is no evidence against water continuous flow and several datasets in support of it. While none are themsleves conclusive, the balance of probability, based on several independent datasets inspected, means it is very likely that water does indeed flow from the ice sheet interior to the margin in east Antarctica. Evidence for past significant ice sheet change in East Antarctica. Radar data was used to determine subglacial topography, which revealed major new information on the Antarctic sub-ice landscape. We use this to show that, in the Aurora basin region, significant former ice sheet changes had taken place, at that in previous times the ice sheet in this region has been far smaller. New gravity and magnetics data, revealing information on the tectonics of the continent. We have used gravity and magnetics data from our survey of Antarctica, and coupled it to similar datasets in Australia, to show how they have formerly been connected, how major geological faults and tectononics can be seen in both regions, and geology subsequently has influenced long-term ice sheet flow and form since ice sheet inception 34Ma. Bed topography We have revealed a major ocean gateway between the Southern Ocean and the Totten Glacier. |
| Exploitation Route | Our work has been featured in TV/Radio and newspapers on several occasions, due to some high level publications that have received media and public interest. We are keen to promote our work in this way and in particular reach out to children in order to inform them about Antarctica, science and the environment. The Antarctic Treaty forbids the exploitation of Antarctic resources. However, the data collected are freely available for anyone to use. |
| Sectors | Environment |
| URL | http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/research/ICECAP |
| Description | ICECAP 2 fieldwork preparation |
| Organisation | Australian Antarctic Division |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | At our meeting in Goa, we undertook a detailed flight plan assessment for Antarctic fieldwork this coming season. It involved analysis of satellite data, to inspect geophysical targets, and flight profiles to best capture the information needed for their analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Previously, US and Chinese colleagues had collaborated to equip a Basler aircraft with geophysical equipment - at no cost to the project. Chinese, US and Indian colleagues will commence fieldwork, with no operational costs to the programme. Australian colleagues will undertake a complementary geophysical programme, utlising the flight planning work, at no cost. |
| Impact | none |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | ICECAP 2 fieldwork preparation |
| Organisation | Beijing Normal University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | At our meeting in Goa, we undertook a detailed flight plan assessment for Antarctic fieldwork this coming season. It involved analysis of satellite data, to inspect geophysical targets, and flight profiles to best capture the information needed for their analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Previously, US and Chinese colleagues had collaborated to equip a Basler aircraft with geophysical equipment - at no cost to the project. Chinese, US and Indian colleagues will commence fieldwork, with no operational costs to the programme. Australian colleagues will undertake a complementary geophysical programme, utlising the flight planning work, at no cost. |
| Impact | none |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | ICECAP 2 fieldwork preparation |
| Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | At our meeting in Goa, we undertook a detailed flight plan assessment for Antarctic fieldwork this coming season. It involved analysis of satellite data, to inspect geophysical targets, and flight profiles to best capture the information needed for their analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Previously, US and Chinese colleagues had collaborated to equip a Basler aircraft with geophysical equipment - at no cost to the project. Chinese, US and Indian colleagues will commence fieldwork, with no operational costs to the programme. Australian colleagues will undertake a complementary geophysical programme, utlising the flight planning work, at no cost. |
| Impact | none |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | ICECAP 2 fieldwork preparation |
| Organisation | Durham University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | At our meeting in Goa, we undertook a detailed flight plan assessment for Antarctic fieldwork this coming season. It involved analysis of satellite data, to inspect geophysical targets, and flight profiles to best capture the information needed for their analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Previously, US and Chinese colleagues had collaborated to equip a Basler aircraft with geophysical equipment - at no cost to the project. Chinese, US and Indian colleagues will commence fieldwork, with no operational costs to the programme. Australian colleagues will undertake a complementary geophysical programme, utlising the flight planning work, at no cost. |
| Impact | none |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | ICECAP 2 fieldwork preparation |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | At our meeting in Goa, we undertook a detailed flight plan assessment for Antarctic fieldwork this coming season. It involved analysis of satellite data, to inspect geophysical targets, and flight profiles to best capture the information needed for their analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Previously, US and Chinese colleagues had collaborated to equip a Basler aircraft with geophysical equipment - at no cost to the project. Chinese, US and Indian colleagues will commence fieldwork, with no operational costs to the programme. Australian colleagues will undertake a complementary geophysical programme, utlising the flight planning work, at no cost. |
| Impact | none |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | ICECAP 2 fieldwork preparation |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | At our meeting in Goa, we undertook a detailed flight plan assessment for Antarctic fieldwork this coming season. It involved analysis of satellite data, to inspect geophysical targets, and flight profiles to best capture the information needed for their analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Previously, US and Chinese colleagues had collaborated to equip a Basler aircraft with geophysical equipment - at no cost to the project. Chinese, US and Indian colleagues will commence fieldwork, with no operational costs to the programme. Australian colleagues will undertake a complementary geophysical programme, utlising the flight planning work, at no cost. |
| Impact | none |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | ICECAP 2 fieldwork preparation |
| Organisation | Polar Research Institute of China |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | At our meeting in Goa, we undertook a detailed flight plan assessment for Antarctic fieldwork this coming season. It involved analysis of satellite data, to inspect geophysical targets, and flight profiles to best capture the information needed for their analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Previously, US and Chinese colleagues had collaborated to equip a Basler aircraft with geophysical equipment - at no cost to the project. Chinese, US and Indian colleagues will commence fieldwork, with no operational costs to the programme. Australian colleagues will undertake a complementary geophysical programme, utlising the flight planning work, at no cost. |
| Impact | none |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | ICECAP 2 fieldwork preparation |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | At our meeting in Goa, we undertook a detailed flight plan assessment for Antarctic fieldwork this coming season. It involved analysis of satellite data, to inspect geophysical targets, and flight profiles to best capture the information needed for their analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Previously, US and Chinese colleagues had collaborated to equip a Basler aircraft with geophysical equipment - at no cost to the project. Chinese, US and Indian colleagues will commence fieldwork, with no operational costs to the programme. Australian colleagues will undertake a complementary geophysical programme, utlising the flight planning work, at no cost. |
| Impact | none |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | ICECAP 2 fieldwork preparation |
| Organisation | University of Delhi |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | At our meeting in Goa, we undertook a detailed flight plan assessment for Antarctic fieldwork this coming season. It involved analysis of satellite data, to inspect geophysical targets, and flight profiles to best capture the information needed for their analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Previously, US and Chinese colleagues had collaborated to equip a Basler aircraft with geophysical equipment - at no cost to the project. Chinese, US and Indian colleagues will commence fieldwork, with no operational costs to the programme. Australian colleagues will undertake a complementary geophysical programme, utlising the flight planning work, at no cost. |
| Impact | none |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | ICECAP 2 fieldwork preparation |
| Organisation | University of Texas at Austin |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | At our meeting in Goa, we undertook a detailed flight plan assessment for Antarctic fieldwork this coming season. It involved analysis of satellite data, to inspect geophysical targets, and flight profiles to best capture the information needed for their analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Previously, US and Chinese colleagues had collaborated to equip a Basler aircraft with geophysical equipment - at no cost to the project. Chinese, US and Indian colleagues will commence fieldwork, with no operational costs to the programme. Australian colleagues will undertake a complementary geophysical programme, utlising the flight planning work, at no cost. |
| Impact | none |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | ICECAP2 fieldwork |
| Organisation | Polar Research Institute of China |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | UK Scientists defined the field season plan, to undertake the geophysical survey of Princess Elizabeth Land in East Antarctica, to maximize scientific return. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Chinese partners undertook the fieldwork (including logistics, fuel and aircraft time). US partners provided equipment and personnel for the fieldwork. |
| Impact | The first paper was published by the international team in January 2016. Jamieson, S.S.R., Ross, N., Greenbaum, J.S., Young, D.A., Aitken, A.R., Roberts, J.L., Blankenship, D.D. and Siegert, M.J. A large subglacial lake and canyon system in Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica. Geology, 44, 87-90. doi:10.1130/G37220.1 (2016). [Article received worldwide media coverage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35303779]. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | ICECAP2 fieldwork |
| Organisation | University of Texas at Austin |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | UK Scientists defined the field season plan, to undertake the geophysical survey of Princess Elizabeth Land in East Antarctica, to maximize scientific return. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Chinese partners undertook the fieldwork (including logistics, fuel and aircraft time). US partners provided equipment and personnel for the fieldwork. |
| Impact | The first paper was published by the international team in January 2016. Jamieson, S.S.R., Ross, N., Greenbaum, J.S., Young, D.A., Aitken, A.R., Roberts, J.L., Blankenship, D.D. and Siegert, M.J. A large subglacial lake and canyon system in Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica. Geology, 44, 87-90. doi:10.1130/G37220.1 (2016). [Article received worldwide media coverage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35303779]. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Conference presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Academic talk, The polarimetric radar wave and its propagating in anisotropic ice sheet, generated questions during and afterwards Discussion will influence the papers being written subsequently |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://isaes2015goa.in/docs/Programe%20-%2013%20July_corrections%20marked.pdf |
| Description | Inaugural Lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Lots of questions from the public Emails and twitter questions |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | https://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AwrBT.E48QNWo04AaNhXNyoA;_ylc=X1MDMjc2NjY3OQRfcgMyBGZyA3lzZXRfY... |
| Description | News article in Nature |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A news article in Nature magazine on the ICECAP programme work on the Totten Glacier. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.nature.com/news/antarctica-s-sleeping-ice-giant-could-wake-soon-1.21808 |
| Description | Pint of Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Many questions from the public about my talk Emails, and social media contact, from the public about my talk |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://pintofscience.co.uk/event/undiscovered-origins/ |
| Description | Royal Society Meeting on Subglacial Lake Exploration |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | workshop facilitator |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | International dialogue on the future of Antarctic subglacial lake exploration. Article in Eos on the findings of the workshop. A white paper detailing the 20 year future for subglacial lake exploration, fed to the Antarctic Roadmap Challenge to integrate with other long-term plans for exploration. A Royal Society book to document progress and plans. A high degree of community shared knowledge. A meeting with the Korean Antarctic Programme on subglacial exploration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | https://royalsociety.org/events/2015/03/subglacial-antarctic-lakes/ |