Woodward, John

English

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Northumbria Research Link
Citation: Woodward, John (2011) Geophysical explorations of subglacial Antarctic lake environments : 
in  search of  viable habitats and sedimentary records of  palaeoclimate.  In:  Northumbria Research 
Conference, 5 May - 6 May 2011, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 
URL: 
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Geophysical explorations of subglacial Antarctic lake environments: in search of viable 
habitats and sedimentary records of palaeoclimate 
 
John Woodward 
 
School of the Built and Natural Environment 
 
 
Abstract 
 
Antarctic subglacial lakes are important contributors to the basal hydrological cycle of the 
Antarctic ice sheets. They are also believed to be aquatic niche ecosystems hosting life and 
invaluable palaeoclimatic archives. Recent advances in the study of the ice/bed interface 
using geophysical surveys have allowed the detailed characterization of the physiography of 
a number of subglacial lakes. In particular, active seismic and airborne gravity surveys have 
resulted in the calculation of water depths and bathymetries for a number of subglacial 
lakes. These surveys have also allowed an assessment of the sediments that lie beneath the 
lakes, sediments that may contain long-term palaeo records. Access programmes are now 
funded for Subglacial Lake Ellsworth and Subglacial Lake Whillans in the austral summer of 
2012/13 and there are ongoing plans to access Subglacial Lake Vostok. These three lakes are 
very different in character. Subglacial Lake Ellsworth is a long-lived lake located in an over-
deepened fjord near the Amundsen-Weddell Ice Divide of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. 
Subglacial Lake Whillans is a shallow, dynamic lake located beneath the ice plain of the 
Whillans Ice Stream, Siple Coast, West Antarctica.  Subglacial Lake Vostok, the largest and 
deepest known subglacial lake, occupies a large subglacial trough beneath the central East 
Antarctic Ice Sheet. This presentation will summarise the current state of knowledge of the 
physiography of these, and other subglacial lakes and will assess the ecosystems and 
palaeoclimatic archives that may be stored within them. 
 
 


Geophysical explorations of subglacial Antarctic lake environments : in search of viable habitats and sedimentary records of palaeoclimate

Northumbria University Research Portal

 Geophysical explorations of subglacial Antarctic lake environments: in search of viable habitats and sedimentary records of palaeoclimate  John Woodward  School of the Built and Natural Environment   Abstract  Antarctic subglacial lakes are important contributors to the basal hydrological cycle of the Antarctic ice sheets. They are also believed to be aquatic niche ecosystems hosting life and invaluable palaeoclimatic archives. Recent advances in the study of the ice/bed interface using geophysical surveys have allowed the detailed characterization of the physiography of a number of subglacial lakes. In particular, active seismic and airborne gravity surveys have resulted in the calculation of water depths and bathymetries for a number of subglacial lakes. These surveys have also allowed an assessment of the sediments that lie beneath the lakes, sediments that may contain long-term palaeo records. Access programmes are now funded for Subglacial Lake Ellsworth and Subglacial Lake Whillans in the austral summer of 2012/13 and there are ongoing plans to access Subglacial Lake Vostok. These three lakes are very different in character. Subglacial Lake Ellsworth is a long-lived lake located in an over-deepened fjord near the Amundsen-Weddell Ice Divide of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Subglacial Lake Whillans is a shallow, dynamic lake located beneath the ice plain of the Whillans Ice Stream, Siple Coast, West Antarctica.  Subglacial Lake Vostok, the largest and deepest known subglacial lake, occupies a large subglacial trough beneath the central East Antarctic Ice Sheet. This presentation will summarise the current state of knowledge of the physiography of these, and other subglacial lakes and will assess the ecosystems and palaeoclimatic archives that may be stored within them.   

http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/3675/1/J%20Woodward_BNE_paper%20YES.pdf

Geophysical explorations of subglacial Antarctic lake environments : in search of viable habitats and sedimentary records of palaeoclimate

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