First airborne gravity results over the Thwaites Glacier catchment, West Antarctica

Diehl, Theresa M.; Holt, John W.; Blankenship, Donald D.; Young, Duncan A.; Jordan, Tom A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2780-1986; Ferraccioli, Fausto ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9347-4736. 2008 First airborne gravity results over the Thwaites Glacier catchment, West Antarctica. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 9 (4), Q04011. 10, pp. 10.1029/2007GC001878

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Official URL: http://www.agu.org/journals/gc/gc0804/2007GC001878...

Abstract/Summary

Recent satellite observations of Thwaites Glacier in the Amundsen Sea Embayment, West Antarctica, have shown that the glacier is changing rapidly. The causes of its dynamic behavior are uncertain but are of concern because this glacier has the most negative mass balance of all Antarctic glaciers. To better understand Thwaites Glacier's subglacial setting, we conducted a multi- instrumented aerogeophysical survey of its catchment and present here the first gravity results. We employed a new gravimeter, and it performed well despite extreme conditions and an unusual survey design. The unleveled free- air gravity anomalies have a 2.3 mGal RMS error and a 9 km spatial resolution. Despite slightly higher than standard noise levels, the free- air anomalies correlate well with radar- derived subglacial topography. The new airborne gravity data assist in interpreting radar- identified bedrock features and are an ideal basis for future studies of subglacial geology and its control on the dynamics of Thwaites Glacier.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1029/2007GC001878
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Long-Term Monitoring and Survey – Geosciences Division
ISSN:	1525-2027
Additional Keywords:	gravity; aerogeophysics; Antarctica; Thwaites Glacier; Amundsen Sea Embayment
NORA Subject Terms:	Glaciology
Date made live:	12 Jan 2011 17:19 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/11442

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1029/2007GC001878

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Long-Term Monitoring and Survey – Geosciences Division

ISSN:

1525-2027

Additional Keywords:

gravity; aerogeophysics; Antarctica; Thwaites Glacier; Amundsen Sea Embayment

NORA Subject Terms:

Glaciology