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Subglacial Lake Ellsworth: A candidate for in situ exploration in West Antarctica
Author(s) -
Siegert Martin J.,
Hindmarsh Richard,
Corr Hugh,
Smith Andy,
Woodward John,
King Edward C.,
Payne Antony J.,
Joughin Ian
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2004gl021477
Subject(s) - geology , shelf ice , glacier , antarctic ice sheet , glacial period , oceanography , depth sounding , ice shelf , ice stream , glaciology , ice sheet , geomorphology , echo sounding , cryosphere , physical geography , paleontology , sea ice , stratigraphy , geography , tectonics
Radio‐echo sounding reveals a 10 km‐long lake beneath ∼3.4 km of ice near the Ellsworth Mountains in West Antarctica, 20 km from the ice divide. Subglacial Lake Ellsworth is located within a distinct topographic hollow, which is ∼1.5 km deeper than the surrounding bed. Judging by bed slopes flanking the lake, the water depth is at least 10s of metres. Calculations of basal temperature reveal the ice base to be warm both now and during full glacial periods. As the environments of subglacial lakes are broadly similar, life may be expected in Lake Ellsworth as in any other. Given this, its physical characteristics, and the fact that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has been accessed on several occasions, Lake Ellsworth is an excellent candidate for in situ examination.