Glacial and Subglacial Topography of West Antarctica

Abstract

A summary of the techniques used and results obtained from three oversnow traverses in Marie Byrd Land and the Ellsworth Highland between January 1957 and January 1959 is presented. Seismic reflection shooting at 30 nautical mile (55.5 km.) intervals was combined with gravity, magnetic and altimetric measurements to determine the glacial and subglacial topography. It was found that a vast portion of West Antarctica has an ice–rock interface well below sea-level. A major connecting channel with a maximum depth of more than 2,500 m. below sea-level exists between the Ross and Bellingshausen–Amundsen Seas, whereas there is no major topographic connection between the Ross and Weddell Seas. This channel divides West Antarctica into two provinces with granite and rocks of sedimentary origin to the east and south, and a volcanic region to the north-west. Present ice flow is outward from two high areas, centred over mountainous regions on either side of the channel. It is concluded that the present ice sheet has grown from the convergence of the two smaller ice sheets which formed in the mountainous areas and joined across the intervening open water.