Geophysical surveys in the vicinity of the Progress station, East Antarctica, performed during the 63rd RAE season (2017/18)

• Published in: Ice and Snow
• Main Authors: A. Sukhanova A., S. Popov V., A. Boronina S., S. Grigorieva D., M. Kashkevich P., А. Суханова А., С. Попов В., А. Боронина С., С. Григорьева Д., М. Кашкевич П.
• Other Authors: The authors are grateful to their colleague G.A. Deshevykh for assistance in carrying out of the field work, to the head of the Progress Station of the 62nd RAE, A.V. Mirakin for assistance in the organization of performed works and the provision of photographic materials, to the staff of Progress Station of the 62nd RAE and the head of Progress Station of the 63rd RAE A.V. Voevodin for assistance during the work organization, Institute of Earth Sciences of St. Petersburg State University and «GeofizPoisk» for providing the geophysical equipment. The work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research in the framework of the scientific project № 18-05-00421., Авторы выражают благодарность своему коллеге, сотруднику гляцио-геофизического отряда 63-й РАЭ Г.А. Дешевых за помощь в проведении полевых работ, начальнику станции Прогресс 62-й РАЭ А.В. Миракину за помощь в организации выполненных работ и предоставление фотоматериалов, сотрудникам станции Прогресс 62-й РАЭ и начальнику станции Прогресс 63-й РАЭ А.В. Воеводину за помощь в организации выполненных работ, Институту наук о Земле СПбГУ и ООО «ГеофизПоиск» за предоставленную геофизическую аппаратуру. Работа выполнена при финансовой поддержке РФФИ в рамках научного проекта № 18-05-00421.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Russian
• Published: IGRAS 2020
• Subjects: East Antarctica;GPR profiling;ice crevasses;outburst flood;Progress Station;transport operations; Восточная Антарктида;георадиолокационное профилирование;ледниковые трещины;прорывной паводок;станция Прогресс;транспортные операции; Antarctic; The Antarctic; East Antarctica; Larsemann Hills; Progress Station; Rae; Antarc*; Antarctica; Polar Research; Антарктида
• Online Access: https://ice-snow.igras.ru/jour/article/view/776; https://doi.org/10.31857/S2076673420010030

In recent years, when organizing works of the Russian Antarctic Expedition (RAE), considerable attention is given to the safety of logistics operations carried out at Russian stations and field bases. The main factors that threaten polar explorers are extensive systems of cracks and water breakthroughs, confined to the marginal, the most dynamic part of the outlet glaciers, in the area of which the most part of stations are located. One example of the impact of these processes on transport communications in Antarctica is the breakthrough of an intraglacial reservoir in the Dolk glacier near the station Progress (Larsemann Hills, Eastern Antarctica) in the season of the 62nd RAE (2016/17). The outburst resulted in the formation of a huge hole in the glacier body and an extensive system of cracks directed towards its flanks. This took place on the part of the route connecting the Progress Station with the point of organization the sledge-tractor train marches to inner regions of the Antarctic continent. Thus, this destroyed the transport links between these points. That is why during the seasonal works of the 63rd RAE (2017/18) geophysical surveys were carried out around the hole by means of the GPR profiling for the purpose to find the best way and organize a new all-season route. The GPR soundings performed at frequencies of 900 and 150 MHz, made possible to fix numerous cracks and large volumes of melt water accumulations in the near-surface part of the ice layer. The analysis of the obtained time sections and the assessment of the depths of cracks and watered areas did show that the detected objects in the glacier body were not dangerous for advancing of the sledge-caterpillar equipment passing by the hole. These surveys allowed planning the optimal new route, after which it was rolled up and put into operation. The logistical connection between the station and the airfield has been restored. Until the end of the field season, the new all-season route was actively used for transportation. Представлены ...