Dr' Robin E' Bell and Dr' Michael Studinger

1
Lamont Update on Subglacial Lake Activites - June
2007 AGAP - IPY Program in East Antarctica

• Dr. Robin E. Bell and Dr. Michael Studinger
• Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
• Columbia University

2
DOME A
DOME A
3
AGAP - Building International Partnerships to
Explore Antarcticas Gamburtsev Province

• Bringing together unique cutting edge geophysical
  technologies to explore the Gambursev Province
• International Partners
• U.S. - Columbia University and 6 other US
  institutions
• China - CAGS and PRIC
• Germany - BGR and AWI
• Britain - BAS
• Australia
• Japan
• Italy
• Russia

4
AGAP team will address 4 fundamental questions

• 1) What role does topography play in the
  nucleation of continental ice sheets?
• 2) How are major elevated continental massifs
  formed within intraplate settings but without a
  straightforward plate tectonic mechanism?
• 3) How do tectonic processes control the
  formation, distribution, and stability of
  subglacial lakes?
• 4) Where is the oldest climate record in the
  Antarctic ice sheet?

5
Ice Surface Topography
6
AGAP Fundamental Question 1 What Role Did the
Gamburtsev Mountain Topography Play in the
Nucleation of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet?

• Deconto and Pollard

7
Subglacial Topography
8
AGAP Fundamental Question 2 How Did The
Gamburtsev Mountains, a Major Elevated
Continental Massif, Form?
9
GRACE Gravity Data - Proxy for Topography
10
AGAP Fundamental Question 3 How do tectonic
processes control the formation, distribution,
and stability of subglacial lakes?
Recovery Lakes Region
Location of Subglacial Lakes
Vostok Lake Region
11
Timetable for AGAP Activities

• 200

2007-2008 GAMSEIS Install Seismic
Stations 2008-2009 AGAP Aerogeophysical Survey,
Install Seismic Stations 2009-2010 Recover
Seismic Stations, Collaborative Analysis
12
GAMBIT

• NSF Supported Aerogeophysical Program
• Aircraft Equipped with Gravity, Magnetics, Laser,
  Ice Penetrating Radar
• Using New Equipment Developed Through 2M MRI
  Grant
• Leveraging 25M Grant to U Kansas for Radar

• Michael Studinger and Nick Frearson Testing New
  Equipment High Arctic - Today
• Gravity Systems June 2007 Ellsemere
• Full Equipment Package Greenland May 2008

13
Survey Design Based on Vostok

• Long Lines Regional Structure and Regional Ice
  Thickness
• Central Grid - Detailed Glaciologic Geologic
  Analysis