HR: 16:00h
AN: T14A-01 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: Aerogeophysical mapping: a powerful tool to explore Antarctica
AU: * Studinger, M
EM: mstuding@ldeo.columbia.edu
AF: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964-8000 United States
AB: Within the framework of the upcoming International Polar Year several science opportunities for Antarctic geology and geophysics exist. Of particular interest are key issues in solid earth science that can only be addressed by a coordinated effort between several nations such as the first-order geophysical mapping of tectonic and geologic structures in the interior of East Antarctica. Given the extensive ice cover, airborne geophysical data is the best and most cost-effective method to characterize broad areas of sub-ice basement and expand our knowledge of Antarctica. A number of basic problems can be addressed with a long-range research aircraft that are unique to the Antarctic continent and the polar regions. For example, the interplay between geologic processes, ice sheet dynamics and climate change is of importance for the global environment and affects long-term sea level changes. The onset of glaciation in East Antarctica is only poorly understood. Preliminary ice sheet and climate models suggest that the elevated topography of the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains and the episodic uplift of the Transantarctic Mountains play important roles in the evolution of the ice sheet, and thus, climate. Subglacial lakes and their potential for harboring life have great potential for geologic and geophysical research. Of particular interest for geologists and geophysicists are the tectonic framework of subglacial lakes and the nature of sediments at the lake bottom.
DE: 9310 Antarctica
DE: 8122 Dynamics, gravity and tectonics
DE: 1219 Local gravity anomalies and crustal structure
DE: 1517 Magnetic anomaly modeling
SC: Tectonophysics [T]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting