Ice sheet surface lineaments as nonconventional indicators of East Antarctica bedrock tectonics

A recent focus of major international\udexploration in East Antarctica has been\udaimed at revealing its bedrock topography\udand imaging its tectonic architecture and evolution.\udHere we present the tectonic interpretation\udof regional-scale lineaments revealed\udby the Radarsat mosaic of Antarctica on\udthe ice sheet surface in the Vostok–Dome C–\udAdventure Basin region. These lineaments\udappear in the radar backscatter textures as\udalignments of marked tonal variations with\udlengths of tens to hundreds of kilometers and\udwere identifi ed using an automated methodology.\udWe explore the origin scenarios for the\udice sheet surface lineaments by comparing\udtheir azimuthal trends and spatial distribution\udwith the main morphotectonic features\udof the bedrock. Azimuthal analysis reveals\udthat lineaments cluster around two preferential\uddirections interpreted as structural or\udtectonic domains. These show strong correlations\udwith azimuths of tectonic fabrics in the\udbedrock. The main lineament domain parallels\udthe morphotectonic features of the study\udarea, namely the Adventure Basin and the\udConcordia and Aurora Trenches. The second\udlineament set corresponds to the mean\udorientation of the Lake Vostok depression.\udThe spatial analyses of the two lineament\uddomains strengthen our fi ndings and interpretations.\udComparisons with wind and ice\udfl ow directions exclude their infl uence on the\udidentifi ed lineament pattern. Results reveal\udthe tectonic origin of the lineament domains,\udand demonstrate the method’s usefulness as\uda tool for tectonic studies of regions characterized\udby thick covers. These regions include\udother areas of the East Antarctic craton such\udas the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains, as\udwell as deserts or surfaces of other planets