Subglacial Lake Ellsworth: A candidate for in situ exploration in West Antarctica

M. J. Siegert; R. Hindmarsh; H. Corr; A. Smith; J. Woodward; E. C. King; A. J. Payne; I. Joughin

doi:10.1029/2004GL021477

Subglacial Lake Ellsworth: A candidate for in situ exploration in West Antarctica

M. J. Siegert, R. Hindmarsh, H. Corr, A. Smith, J. Woodward, E. C. King, A. J. Payne, I. Joughin

School of Geosciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Radio-echo sounding reveals a 10 km-long lake beneath ∼3.4 km of ice near the Ellsworth Mountains in West Antarctica, 20 km from the ice divide. Subglacial Lake Ellsworth is located within a distinct topographic hollow, which is ∼1.5 km deeper than the surrounding bed. Judging by bed slopes flanking the lake, the water depth is at least 10s of metres. Calculations of basal temperature reveal the ice base to be warm both now and during full glacial periods. As the environments of subglacial lakes are broadly similar, life may be expected in Lake Ellsworth as in any other. Given this, its physical characteristics, and the fact that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has been accessed on several occasions, Lake Ellsworth is an excellent candidate for in situ examination.

Original language	English
Article number	L23403
Pages (from-to)	1-4
Number of pages	4
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	31
Issue number	23
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2004GL021477
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2004

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Published in Geophysical Research Letters by the American Geophysical Union (2004)
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title = "Subglacial Lake Ellsworth: A candidate for in situ exploration in West Antarctica",

abstract = "Radio-echo sounding reveals a 10 km-long lake beneath ∼3.4 km of ice near the Ellsworth Mountains in West Antarctica, 20 km from the ice divide. Subglacial Lake Ellsworth is located within a distinct topographic hollow, which is ∼1.5 km deeper than the surrounding bed. Judging by bed slopes flanking the lake, the water depth is at least 10s of metres. Calculations of basal temperature reveal the ice base to be warm both now and during full glacial periods. As the environments of subglacial lakes are broadly similar, life may be expected in Lake Ellsworth as in any other. Given this, its physical characteristics, and the fact that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has been accessed on several occasions, Lake Ellsworth is an excellent candidate for in situ examination.",

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AU - Siegert, M. J.

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AU - Corr, H.

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AU - Woodward, J.

AU - King, E. C.

AU - Payne, A. J.

AU - Joughin, I.

PY - 2004/12/1

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N2 - Radio-echo sounding reveals a 10 km-long lake beneath ∼3.4 km of ice near the Ellsworth Mountains in West Antarctica, 20 km from the ice divide. Subglacial Lake Ellsworth is located within a distinct topographic hollow, which is ∼1.5 km deeper than the surrounding bed. Judging by bed slopes flanking the lake, the water depth is at least 10s of metres. Calculations of basal temperature reveal the ice base to be warm both now and during full glacial periods. As the environments of subglacial lakes are broadly similar, life may be expected in Lake Ellsworth as in any other. Given this, its physical characteristics, and the fact that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has been accessed on several occasions, Lake Ellsworth is an excellent candidate for in situ examination.

AB - Radio-echo sounding reveals a 10 km-long lake beneath ∼3.4 km of ice near the Ellsworth Mountains in West Antarctica, 20 km from the ice divide. Subglacial Lake Ellsworth is located within a distinct topographic hollow, which is ∼1.5 km deeper than the surrounding bed. Judging by bed slopes flanking the lake, the water depth is at least 10s of metres. Calculations of basal temperature reveal the ice base to be warm both now and during full glacial periods. As the environments of subglacial lakes are broadly similar, life may be expected in Lake Ellsworth as in any other. Given this, its physical characteristics, and the fact that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has been accessed on several occasions, Lake Ellsworth is an excellent candidate for in situ examination.

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DO - 10.1029/2004GL021477

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JO - Geophysical Research Letters

JF - Geophysical Research Letters

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Subglacial Lake Ellsworth: A candidate for in situ exploration in West Antarctica

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