The Cryosphere

Estimating the depth and shape of subglacial Lake Vostok's water cavity from aerogravity data

  1. Michael Studinger1,
  2. Robin E. Bell1,
  3. Anahita A. Tikku2,3

Article first published online: 19 JUN 2004

DOI: 10.1029/2004GL019801

Issue

Geophysical Research Letters

Geophysical Research Letters

Additional Information

How to Cite

Studinger, M., R. E. Bell, and A. A. Tikku (2004), Estimating the depth and shape of subglacial Lake Vostok's water cavity from aerogravity data, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L12401, doi:10.1029/2004GL019801.

Author Information

  1. 1

    Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York, USA

  2. 2

    Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

  3. 3

    Now at Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 JUN 2004
  2. Article first published online: 19 JUN 2004
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 17 MAY 2004
  4. Manuscript Revised: 27 APR 2004
  5. Manuscript Received: 24 FEB 2004

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (245K)

[1] We use aerogravity data to estimate the water depth of subglacial Lake Vostok in East Antarctica. The inversion produces the first bathymetry map covering the entire lake. Lake Vostok consists of two sub-basins separated by a ridge with very shallow water depths. The deeper southern sub-basin is approximately double the spatial area of the smaller northern sub-basin. The close correlation between the pattern of basal melting and freezing and the bathymetric structure has important ramifications for the water circulation and the sediment deposition. We estimate the lake volume to be 5400 ± 1600 km3.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (245K)