In this section
@article{Ross:2015:10.1098/rsta.2014.0306,
author = {Ross, N and Le, Brocq AM and Siegert, MJ},
doi = {10.1098/rsta.2014.0306},
journal = {Journal: Philosophical Transactions A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences},
title = {Recent advances in understanding Antarctic subglacial lakes and hydrology},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2014.0306},
volume = {374},
year = {2015}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - It is now well documented that over 400 subglacial lakes exist across the bed of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. They comprise a variety of sizes and volumes (from the approx. 250 km long Lake Vostok to bodies of water less than 1 km in length), relate to a number of discrete topographic settings (from those contained within valleys to lakes that reside in broad flat terrain) and exhibit a range of dynamic behaviours (from ‘active’ lakes that periodically outburst some or all of their water to those isolated hydrologically for millions of years). Here we critique recent advances in our understanding of subglacial lakes, in particular since the last inventory in 2012. We show that within 3 years our knowledge of the hydrological processes at the ice-sheet base has advanced considerably. We describe evidence for further ‘active’ subglacial lakes, based on satellite observation of ice-surface changes, and discuss why detection of many ‘active’ lakes is not resolved in traditional radio-echo sounding methods. We go on to review evidence for large-scale subglacial water flow in Antarctica, including the discovery of ancient channels developed by former hydrological processes. We end by predicting areas where future discoveries may be possible, including the detection, measurement and significance of groundwater (i.e. water held beneath the ice-bed interface).
AU - Ross,N
AU - Le,Brocq AM
AU - Siegert,MJ
DO - 10.1098/rsta.2014.0306
PY - 2015///
SN - 1471-2962
TI - Recent advances in understanding Antarctic subglacial lakes and hydrology
T2 - Journal: Philosophical Transactions A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2014.0306
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/28344
VL - 374
ER -
Climate Science
Earth and Life Sciences
Energy and Low-Carbon Futures
Resources and Pollution
Economics and Finance
Health
View all publications and browse by year
Briefing papers and Briefing notes
Grantham Institute Outlooks
Evidence & submission papers
Infographics