Hydrology and climate in the Ross Sea area

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Glacial features in the Ross Sea area are a result of seaward flucuations of outlet glaciers from the ice sheet, alpine glacier variations, and inland advances of a grounded Ross Ice Shelf. Both alpine and outlet glaciers in this area currently may be at their greatest extension since Otiran (Wisconsin) time. Mass balance changes measured on Dry Valley glaciers are very small, indicating conditions close to glacial equilbrium and emphasising a low degree of glacial activity. Accumulation is greatest in summer, suggesting that in this region, a temperature increase may lead to a glacial advance. Hydrological studies include measurement of the Onyx River flow, and early-and late-summer levels of nine enclosed lakes. Annual discharge of water into Lake Vanda by the Onyx River is variable, with pronounced diurnal variation, but there are also several peak flows, each about one week long, each season. Levels of enclosed lakes, lowered from early Holocene times, are currently rising. Beginning-and end-of-season levels measured on lakes since the 1972-73 summer indicated summer energy input. Anomalous behaviour in seasonal level changes is common; Lake Vanda has consistently low rises (except for one exceptional year), and lakes Bonney and Joyce have consistently high rises. Results suggest that where a lake adjoins a glacier,in some cases the lake may rise over the winter due to ground water inflow from beneath the glacier. Future research should be directed towards identifying and isolating nonclimatic events and establishing the magnitude of climatic variations responsible for measured hydrological events.