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First glaciological investigations at Ridge B, central East Antarctica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2021

Alexey A. Ekaykin Open the ORCID record for Alexey A. Ekaykin [Opens in a new window] ,
Alexey V. Bolshunov ,
Vladimir Ya. Lipenkov Open the ORCID record for Vladimir Ya. Lipenkov [Opens in a new window] ,
Mirko Scheinert Open the ORCID record for Mirko Scheinert [Opens in a new window] ,
Lutz Eberlein ,
Evgeniy Brovkov ,
Sergey V. Popov Open the ORCID record for Sergey V. Popov [Opens in a new window]  and
Alexey V. Turkeev
Alexey A. Ekaykin*
Affiliation:
Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, 38 Beringa St., 199397St Petersburg, Russia Institute of Earth Sciences of Saint Petersburg State University, 31–33 10-ya liniya V.O., 199178St Petersburg, Russia
Alexey V. Bolshunov
Affiliation:
Saint Petersburg Mining University, 2 21-ya liniya V.O., 199106St Petersburg, Russia
Vladimir Ya. Lipenkov
Affiliation:
Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, 38 Beringa St., 199397St Petersburg, Russia
Mirko Scheinert
Affiliation:
Institut für Planetare Geodäsie, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtzstraße 10, 01069Dresden, Germany
Lutz Eberlein
Affiliation:
Institut für Planetare Geodäsie, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtzstraße 10, 01069Dresden, Germany
Evgeniy Brovkov
Affiliation:
Aerogeodeziya, 8 Buharestskaya St., 192102St Petersburg, Russia
Sergey V. Popov
Affiliation:
Institute of Earth Sciences of Saint Petersburg State University, 31–33 10-ya liniya V.O., 199178St Petersburg, Russia Polar Marine Geosurvey Expedition, 24 Pobedy St., 198412St Petersburg, Lomonosov, Russia
Alexey V. Turkeev
Affiliation:
Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, 38 Beringa St., 199397St Petersburg, Russia
*
ekaykin@aari.ru
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Abstract

The region of Ridge B in central East Antarctica is one of the last unexplored parts of the continent and, at the same time, ranks among the most promising places to search for Earth's oldest ice. In January 2020, we carried out the first scientific traverse from Russia's Vostok Station to the topographical dome of Ridge B (Dome B, 3807 m above sea level, 79.02°S, 93.69°E). The glaciological programme included continuous snow-radar profiling and geodetic positioning along the traverse's route, installation of snow stakes, measurements of snow density, collection of samples for stable water isotope and chemical analyses and drilling of a 20 m firn core. The first results of the traverse show that the surface mass balance at Dome B (2.28 g cm−2 year−1) is among the lowest in Antarctica. The firn temperature below the layer of annual variations is −58.1 ± 0.2°C. A very low value of heavy water stable isotope content (-58.2‰ for oxygen-18) was discovered at a distance of 170 km from Vostok Station. This work is the first step towards a comprehensive reconnaissance study of the Ridge B area aimed at locating the best site for future deep drilling for the oldest Antarctic ice.

Keywords

accumulation ratechemical contentGNSSGPRold icestable water isotopes
Type
Earth Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 33 , Issue 4 , August 2021 , pp. 418 - 427
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Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2021

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