Distribution of depth to ice-cemented soils in the high-elevation Quartermain Mountains, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Abstract We report on 475 measurements of depth to ice-cemented ground in four high-elevation valleys of the Quartermain Mountains, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. These valleys have pervasive ice-cemented ground, and the depth to ice-cemented ground and the ice composition may be indicators of cli...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antarctic Science
Main Authors: Marinova, Margarita M., Mckay, Christopher P., Pollard, Wayne H., Heldmann, Jennifer L., Davila, Alfonso F., Andersen, Dale T., Jackson, W. Andrew, Lacelle, Denis, Paulsen, Gale, Zacny, Kris
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2013
Subjects:
Geology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Oceanography
McMurdo Dry Valleys
Beacon Valley
University Valley
Quartermain Mountains
Farnell Valley
Antarc*
Antarctic Science
Antarctica
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s095410201200123x
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S095410201200123X
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Summary:Abstract We report on 475 measurements of depth to ice-cemented ground in four high-elevation valleys of the Quartermain Mountains, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. These valleys have pervasive ice-cemented ground, and the depth to ice-cemented ground and the ice composition may be indicators of climate change. In University Valley, the measured depth to ice-cemented ground ranges from 0–98 cm. There is an overall trend of increasing depth to ice-cemented ground with distance from a small glacier at the head of the valley, with a slope of 32 cm depth per kilometre along the valley floor. For Farnell Valley, the depth to ice-cemented ground is roughly constant ( c. 30 cm) in the upper and central parts of the valley, but increases sharply as the valley descends into Beacon Valley. The two valleys north of University Valley also have extensive ice-cemented ground, with depths of 20–40 cm, but exhibit no clear patterns of ice depth with location. For all valleys there is a tendency for the variability in depth to ice-cemented ground at a site to increase with increasing depth to ice. Snow recurrence, solar insolation, and surface albedo may all be factors that cause site to site variations in these valleys.

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