A Crystallographic Study of the Perennially Frozen Ice Surface of Patterned Lake, Framnes Mountains, East Antarctica

Abstract Interlocking rectangular ice patterns, with dimensions of several metres, on the surface of a perennial frozen lake in East Antarctica can be related to a strong crystallographic orientation in the underlying ice. Most of the surface patterns are characterized by parallel centimetre-scale r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Glaciology
Main Authors: Chambers, J.L.C., Wilson, C.J.L., Adamson, D.A.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1986
Subjects:
Earth-Surface Processes
East Antarctica
Frozen Lake
Framnes
Framnes Mountains
Patterned Lake
Antarc*
Antarctica
Journal of Glaciology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000012235
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000012235
Description
Summary:Abstract Interlocking rectangular ice patterns, with dimensions of several metres, on the surface of a perennial frozen lake in East Antarctica can be related to a strong crystallographic orientation in the underlying ice. Most of the surface patterns are characterized by parallel centimetre-scale ridges and furrows that correspond to an aggregate of tabular-shaped grains. Grain elongation is parallel to the basal plane. The c -axis distribution within each ice pattern lies in a horizontal plane. It defines a discrete maximum perpendicular to the surface ridges and to the long axis of the rectangular pattern. Areas exhibiting no patterning are composed of variably orientated ice grains. The strong c -axis horizontal orientation and the distinctive morphology of these ice patterns are interpreted as having developed by a geometric enhancement over a long period of time.

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