Glaciology, Victoria Land Traverse, 1959-60

• Main Authors: Stuart, Alfred W., Heine, Arnold J.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Research Foundation, The Ohio State University 1961
• Subjects: Glaciology > Victoria Land Traverse; 1959-1960; Victoria Land Traverse; Antarctic; Ross Sea; Victoria Land; Ross Ice Shelf; Sastrugi; Rennick; Goldthwait; Rennick Glacier; Skelton Glacier; Rennick Bay; Antarc*; Ice Shelf
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1811/56633

"Submitted by RIchard P. Goldthwait to the National Science Foundation, in partial fulfillment of Grant No. NSF-G8992." At head of title: "IGC Antarctic Glaciological Data Field Work 1959-60." The interpretation of 19 snow pits dug by the 1959-60 Victoria Land Traverse gives a mean annual accumulation of 16 cm of water equivalent for the area studied. Deposition is thought to occur in the form of sastrugi instead of in blanket form and this introduces a serious error in the interpretation. Approximate mean annual air temperatures ranged between -38.4°c and -47.4°c. A map of the traverse route shows contoured elevations and sastrugi observations. The highest elevation was 2591 meters. A compilation of accumulation stakes emplaced by this traverse is made available. The Rennick Glacier which empties into Rennick Bay and extends southward for about 300 kilometers was reconnoitered by the traverse party; a sketch map is included. Accumulation stakes were measured on the Ross Ice Shelf, Skelton Glacier, and the Victoria Land Plateau near the coast of the Ross Sea. Annual values ranged from 23.5 cm to 1.7 cm of water equivalent; the higher accumulation is on the Ross Ice Shelf. National Science Foundation Grant No. NSF-G8992