Snow dunes and glazed surfaces in Antarctica: new field and remote-sensing data

• Main Authors: Frezzotti, M., Gandolfi, S., La Marca, F., Urbini, S.
• Other Authors: Frezzotti, M.; ENEA, Centro Ricerche Casaccia, P.O. Box 2400, I-00100 Rome, Italy, Gandolfi, S.; DISTART, Università di Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 2, I-40136 Bologna, Italy, La Marca, F.; Dipartimento di ICMMPM, Università di Roma "La Sapienza", Via Eudossiana 18, I-00184 Rome, Italy, Urbini, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, ENEA, Centro Ricerche Casaccia, P.O. Box 2400, I-00100 Rome, Italy, DISTART, Università di Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 2, I-40136 Bologna, Italy, Dipartimento di ICMMPM, Università di Roma "La Sapienza", Via Eudossiana 18, I-00184 Rome, Italy, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: International Glaciological Society 2002
• Subjects: snow dunes; East Antarctica; GPR; GPS; snow morphologies; 02. Cryosphere::02.02. Glaciers::02.02.02. Cryosphere/atmosphere Interaction; 02. Cryosphere::02.02. Glaciers::02.02.05. Ice dynamics; 02. Cryosphere::02.02. Glaciers::02.02.06. Mass balance; 02. Cryosphere::02.02. Glaciers::02.02.10. Instruments and techniques; 04. Solid Earth::04.02. Exploration geophysics::04.02.99. General or miscellaneous; Antarctic; Talos Dome; Annals of Glaciology; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2122/4066

As part of the International Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition project, the Italian Antarctic Programme undertook two traverses from the Terra Nova station to Talos Dome and to Dome C. Along the traverses, the party carried out several tasks (drilling, glaciological and geophysical exploration). The difference in spectral response between glazed surfaces and snow makes it simple to identify these areas on visible/near-infrared satellite images. Integration of field observation and remotely sensed data allows the description of different mega-morphologic features: wide glazed surfaces, sastrugy glazed surface fields, transverse dunes and megadunes. Topography global positioning system, ground penetrating radar and detailed snow-surface surveys have been carried out, providing new information about the formation and evolution of mega-morphologic features. The extensive presence, (up to 30%) of glazed surface caused by a long hiatus in accumulation, with an accumulation rate of nil or slightly negative, has a significant impact on the surface mass balance of a wide area of the interior part of East Antarctica. The aeolian processes creating these features have important implications for the selection of optimum sites for ice coring, because orographic variations of even a few metres per kilometre have a significant impact on the snow-accumulation process. Remote-sensing surveys of aeolian macro-morphology provide a proven, high-quality method for detailed mapping of the interior of the ice sheet's prevalent wind direction and could provide a relative indication of wind intensity. Published 81-88 3.8. Geofisica per l'ambiente JCR Journal reserved