Depth and Ice Measurements for Antarctic Fjord Seal Habitat

December 1999 data from the Vestfold Hills, Antarctica, contains 102 depth, ice, and snow measurements in Long and Tryne fjords. Collected by the Australian Antarctic Data Centre, the project aimed to describe Weddell seal pupping and moulting habitat. Measurements include water depth, ice thickness, and snow thickness at GPS-located sites.

Use Cases

• Model seal habitat suitability by correlating `depth(m)` and `ice (cm)` measurements with historical seal distribution data.
• Analyze fjord basin morphology by interpolating `lat(dd)`, `long(dd)`, and `depth(m)` to create bathymetric maps.
• Study freshwater influx in upper basins using `depth(m)` measurements and related water sample data indicating aerobic conditions.
• Calibrate remote sensing ice thickness estimates with in-situ `ice (cm)` and `snow(cm)` field measurements.
• Assess tidal influence on depth readings by applying the documented sub-0.5m tidal correction to the `depth(m)` column.

Strengths

• 102 precise measurement records for depth, ice, and snow thickness.
• GPS-located sites with about 25m positional accuracy.
• Depth measurements to the nearest centimeter and ice/snow to the millimeter.
• Data spans a defined 7-day period in December 1999 with tidal corrections applied.

Limitations

• Small sample size of 102 rows limits statistical power for broad generalizations.
• Data is from a single week in 1999, offering only a temporal snapshot.
• Geographic scope is restricted to two specific fjords in the Vestfold Hills.

Provenance

Source

Australian Antarctic Data Centre (AU_AADC), via NASA Earthdata.

Collection Method

Field measurements: holes drilled through sea ice, weighted tape lowered to bottom for depth; manual measurement of ice and snow.

Time Range

1999-12-07 to 1999-12-13

Freshness

null

Geography

Long and Tryne fjords, Vestfold Hills, Prydz Bay, Antarctica.