Geophysical exploration of a West Antarctic subglacial lake

南极冰下湖泊预计含有独特的微生物生命形式和过去气候变化的详细记录。对这些内容的检查需要现场测量，只有在通过地球物理方法充分确定湖泊的特征后才能进行现场测量。在南极洲101个已知的冰下湖泊中，没有一个被测量到需要进行有意义的直接采样的水平。这项提议的目的是对南极洲西部（埃尔斯沃思山脉附近）一个10公里长的冰下湖进行综合地球物理勘探。将在布里斯托大学、英国南极调查局和诺森比亚大学进行数据分析和模型制作，将通过探冰雷达确定冰厚，利用地震勘探确定水深，并通过直接表面测量获得冰的流动和积累情况。一系列的数值模型将被用来了解湖泊的历史，冰在湖面上的流动和湖内的水循环。数据可视化将与马丁·雅各布森博士（合作者）一起进行。该项目的结果将是第一个完全表征的冰下湖泊环境，并为未来的原位分析建立候选环境。

Antarctic subglacial lakes are expected to contain unique microbial lifeforms and detailed records of past climate change. Examination of these contents requires in-situ measurement, which can only take place once a lake has been characterised fully by geophysical methods. Of the 101 known subglacial lakes in Antarctica none have been measured to the level required for meaningful direct sampling to take place. This proposal aims to undertake a comprehensive geophysical exploration of a 10 km ong subglacial lake in West Antarctica (near the Ellsworth Mountains). Data analysis and modelling will be undertaken at the University of Bristol, the British Antarctic Survey and Northumbria University.Ice thickness will be determined from ice-penetrating radar, water depths will be found using seismic exploration, and ice flow and accumulation will be obtained from direct surface measurements. A series of numerical models will be used to understand the history of the lake, the flow of ice across the lake and the circulation of water within the lake.Data visualisation will be undertaken in conjunction with Dr. Martin Jakobsson (collaborator). The result of the project will be the first fully characterised subglacial lake environment and the establishment of a candidate for future in-situ analysis.