Origin(s) of Antarctica's Wilkes Subglacial Basin
Abstract The Wilkes Subglacial Basin (WSB), the largest subglacial basin in East Antarctica, is a topographic depression of continental proportions that lies beneath the East Antarctic continental ice sheet. Discovered by the US Victoria Land Traverse 1959–60, the origin of the WSB and the influence...
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0954102013000746 2024-03-03T08:39:18+00:00 Origin(s) of Antarctica's Wilkes Subglacial Basin Weihaupt, John G. Van Der Hoeven, Frans G. Lorius, Claude Chambers, Frederick B. 2013 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102013000746 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102013000746 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Antarctic Science volume 26, issue 4, page 377-383 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 Geology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography journal-article 2013 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954102013000746 2024-02-08T08:38:10Z Abstract The Wilkes Subglacial Basin (WSB), the largest subglacial basin in East Antarctica, is a topographic depression of continental proportions that lies beneath the East Antarctic continental ice sheet. Discovered by the US Victoria Land Traverse 1959–60, the origin of the WSB and the influence of palaeoclimate on its overlying continental ice sheet have remained uncertain since the time of its discovery. Most explanations of origin favour lithospheric structural control as a function of tectonic activity. Lithospheric flexure due to thermally or isostatically induced uplift of the Transantarctic Mountains was suggested in the 1980s. Lithospheric extension and rifting was proposed in the 1990s. More recent investigations have revealed the presence of fold and thrust belts, casting doubt on flexural and extensional hypotheses as the primary mechanisms, suggesting instead a compressional scenario. While remaining inconclusive, these tectonic mechanisms in one form or another, or in combination, are now believed to have provided the structural control for the origin of the WSB. Not yet comprehensively examined, however, is the role of non-tectonic processes in the formation of the WSB, as they may have influenced the size, configuration, subglacial sedimentation and subglacial topography of the WSB. In this paper we review the tectonic hypotheses and examine post-tectonic climate change along with glacial and marine processes as potentially significant factors in the present condition and configuration of the WSB. In the process, we find that there are a number of features not included in previous investigations that may have been major factors in the modification of the subglacial basin. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Antarctica East Antarctica Ice Sheet Victoria Land Cambridge University Press Antarctic East Antarctica Victoria Land Transantarctic Mountains Wilkes Subglacial Basin ENVELOPE(145.000,145.000,-75.000,-75.000) Antarctic Science 26 4 377 383 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
Geology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography |
spellingShingle |
Geology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography Weihaupt, John G. Van Der Hoeven, Frans G. Lorius, Claude Chambers, Frederick B. Origin(s) of Antarctica's Wilkes Subglacial Basin |
topic_facet |
Geology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography |
description |
Abstract The Wilkes Subglacial Basin (WSB), the largest subglacial basin in East Antarctica, is a topographic depression of continental proportions that lies beneath the East Antarctic continental ice sheet. Discovered by the US Victoria Land Traverse 1959–60, the origin of the WSB and the influence of palaeoclimate on its overlying continental ice sheet have remained uncertain since the time of its discovery. Most explanations of origin favour lithospheric structural control as a function of tectonic activity. Lithospheric flexure due to thermally or isostatically induced uplift of the Transantarctic Mountains was suggested in the 1980s. Lithospheric extension and rifting was proposed in the 1990s. More recent investigations have revealed the presence of fold and thrust belts, casting doubt on flexural and extensional hypotheses as the primary mechanisms, suggesting instead a compressional scenario. While remaining inconclusive, these tectonic mechanisms in one form or another, or in combination, are now believed to have provided the structural control for the origin of the WSB. Not yet comprehensively examined, however, is the role of non-tectonic processes in the formation of the WSB, as they may have influenced the size, configuration, subglacial sedimentation and subglacial topography of the WSB. In this paper we review the tectonic hypotheses and examine post-tectonic climate change along with glacial and marine processes as potentially significant factors in the present condition and configuration of the WSB. In the process, we find that there are a number of features not included in previous investigations that may have been major factors in the modification of the subglacial basin. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Weihaupt, John G. Van Der Hoeven, Frans G. Lorius, Claude Chambers, Frederick B. |
author_facet |
Weihaupt, John G. Van Der Hoeven, Frans G. Lorius, Claude Chambers, Frederick B. |
author_sort |
Weihaupt, John G. |
title |
Origin(s) of Antarctica's Wilkes Subglacial Basin |
title_short |
Origin(s) of Antarctica's Wilkes Subglacial Basin |
title_full |
Origin(s) of Antarctica's Wilkes Subglacial Basin |
title_fullStr |
Origin(s) of Antarctica's Wilkes Subglacial Basin |
title_full_unstemmed |
Origin(s) of Antarctica's Wilkes Subglacial Basin |
title_sort |
origin(s) of antarctica's wilkes subglacial basin |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102013000746 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102013000746 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(145.000,145.000,-75.000,-75.000) |
geographic |
Antarctic East Antarctica Victoria Land Transantarctic Mountains Wilkes Subglacial Basin |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic East Antarctica Victoria Land Transantarctic Mountains Wilkes Subglacial Basin |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Antarctica East Antarctica Ice Sheet Victoria Land |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Antarctica East Antarctica Ice Sheet Victoria Land |
op_source |
Antarctic Science volume 26, issue 4, page 377-383 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954102013000746 |
container_title |
Antarctic Science |
container_volume |
26 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
377 |
op_container_end_page |
383 |
_version_ |
1792494765577601024 |