Seismic Reconnaissance on an Ice-Covered Antarctic Sea

Abstract

During the I.G.Y. seven geophysical stations were occupied on the semi-permanent sea ice of inner McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Three more were occupied on the floating tongue of the Koettlitz Glacier. Seismic refraction, reflection and S-wave propagation studies yielded preliminary data on the configurations of the ice cover and a profile of the bottom of the sound. The bottom slopes smoothly to a depth of 627 m. at the center of the sound. Secondary reflections indicate the presence of an unconsolidated layer on the bottom at some points. The glacier tongue near its seaward edge has a fairly uniform thickness of about 45 m.