Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
First glaciological investigations at Ridge B, central East Antarctica. / Ekaykin, Alexey A.; Bolshunov, Alexey V.; Lipenkov, Vladimir Ya.; Scheinert, Mirko; Eberlein, Lutz; Brovkov, Evgeniy; Popov, Sergey V.; Turkeev, Alexey V.
In: Antarctic Science, Vol. 33, No. 4, 0954102021000171, 08.06.2021, p. 418-427.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - First glaciological investigations at Ridge B, central East Antarctica
AU - Ekaykin, Alexey A.
AU - Bolshunov, Alexey V.
AU - Lipenkov, Vladimir Ya.
AU - Scheinert, Mirko
AU - Eberlein, Lutz
AU - Brovkov, Evgeniy
AU - Popov, Sergey V.
AU - Turkeev, Alexey V.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2021.
PY - 2021/6/8
Y1 - 2021/6/8
N2 - The region of Ridge B in central East Antarctica is one of the last unexplored parts of the continent and, at the same time, ranks among the most promising places to search for Earth's oldest ice. In January 2020, we carried out the first scientific traverse from Russia's Vostok Station to the topographical dome of Ridge B (Dome B, 3807 m above sea level, 79.02 degrees S, 93.69 degrees E). The glaciological programme included continuous snow-radar profiling and geodetic positioning along the traverse's route, installation of snow stakes, measurements of snow density, collection of samples for stable water isotope and chemical analyses and drilling of a 20 m firn core. The first results of the traverse show that the surface mass balance at Dome B (2.28 g cm(-2) year(-1)) is among the lowest in Antarctica. The firn temperature below the layer of annual variations is -58.1 +/- 0.2 degrees C. A very low value of heavy water stable isotope content (-58.2 parts per thousand for oxygen-18) was discovered at a distance of 170 km from Vostok Station. This work is the first step towards a comprehensive reconnaissance study of the Ridge B area aimed at locating the best site for future deep drilling for the oldest Antarctic ice.
AB - The region of Ridge B in central East Antarctica is one of the last unexplored parts of the continent and, at the same time, ranks among the most promising places to search for Earth's oldest ice. In January 2020, we carried out the first scientific traverse from Russia's Vostok Station to the topographical dome of Ridge B (Dome B, 3807 m above sea level, 79.02 degrees S, 93.69 degrees E). The glaciological programme included continuous snow-radar profiling and geodetic positioning along the traverse's route, installation of snow stakes, measurements of snow density, collection of samples for stable water isotope and chemical analyses and drilling of a 20 m firn core. The first results of the traverse show that the surface mass balance at Dome B (2.28 g cm(-2) year(-1)) is among the lowest in Antarctica. The firn temperature below the layer of annual variations is -58.1 +/- 0.2 degrees C. A very low value of heavy water stable isotope content (-58.2 parts per thousand for oxygen-18) was discovered at a distance of 170 km from Vostok Station. This work is the first step towards a comprehensive reconnaissance study of the Ridge B area aimed at locating the best site for future deep drilling for the oldest Antarctic ice.
KW - accumulation rate
KW - chemical content
KW - GNSS
KW - GPR
KW - old ice
KW - stable water isotopes
KW - SNOW
KW - RECORD
KW - VOSTOK ICE-CORE
KW - MODEL
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85107521848&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0954102021000171
DO - 10.1017/S0954102021000171
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85107521848
VL - 33
SP - 418
EP - 427
JO - Antarctic Science
JF - Antarctic Science
SN - 0954-1020
IS - 4
M1 - 0954102021000171
ER -
ID: 77971967