New aerogeophysical survey targets the extent of the West Antarctic Rift System over Ellsworth Land

Abstract

The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is currently undergoing rapid change in particular over the Amundsen Sea Embayment (ASE). Previous aerogeophysical investigations over the Ross Sea Embayment reveal that the underlying geology may modulate ice sheet dynamics and hence stability. But what are the interplays between sub-ice geology and the apparently thinning and retreating glaciers of the ASE region? We will present new aerogeophysical data to provide a window on the “lithospheric cradle” for this part of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, thereby contributing towards studying the largest glaciated continental rift system on Earth, the West Antarctic Rift System