Glacial dynamics, distribution of cryobethic algae and fish and a 3D model of the grounding zone of a tidewater cliff in front of Coats Land's coast ...

• Main Authors: Owsianowski, Nils, Richter, Claudio
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2020
• Subjects: Antarctica; grounding zone; Ice Sheet; ROV remotely operated vehicle; Bentho-Pelagic Processes @ AWI AWI_BPP; Antarc*; Antarctic; Ice Shelf; Weddell Sea
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.924822; https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.924822

The grounding zone of the Antarctic ice-shelf – the ice-sheet, bed, and grounding zone – is largely unknown. We used a ROV (remotely operated vehicle) to explore the grounding zone of a tidewater cliff in front of Coats Land's coast during Polarstern expedition PS111 in 2017/2018 to the southern Weddell Sea. A two hour dive led down the 148 m vertical ice wall to the seabed, followed by a 90 m inspection along the grounding zone, and an approximately 230 m transect of the seafloor normal to the ice front. Available data cover aspects of glacial dynamics, a 3D model of the grounding zone as well as the distribution of cryobethic algae and fish, associated to the ice front. Oceanographic profiles, obtained from CTD measurements, include pH, oxygen, chlorophyll, density, and par beside the standard parameter pressure, temperature, and salinity. The video clip summarizes the ROV dive and emphasizes the highlights. ...