Seismic Reconnaissance on an Ice-Covered Antarctic Sea

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Author: Cook, John C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1963
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Antarctic; McMurdo Sound; Koettlitz Glacier; Antarc*; Antarctica; Journal of Glaciology; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000028094; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000028094

Abstract During the I.G.Y. seven geophysical stations were occupied on the semi-permanent sea ice of inner McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Three more were occupied on the floating tongue of the Koettlitz Glacier. Seismic refraction, reflection and S -wave propagation studies yielded preliminary data on the configurations of the ice cover and a profile of the bottom of the sound. The bottom slopes smoothly to a depth of 627 m. at the center of the sound. Secondary reflections indicate the presence of an unconsolidated layer on the bottom at some points. The glacier tongue near its seaward edge has a fairly uniform thickness of about 45 m.