East Antarctic Seafloor Glaciomorphological Features From Polarstern Expedition

RV Polarstern Expedition PS141 collected over 7500 nautical miles of hydroacoustic data from the Davis and Mawson Sea continental shelves in early 2024. The Australian Ocean Data Network presents first results revealing iceberg scours, mega-scale glacial lineations, and grounding zone wedges. This data aims to reconstruct East Antarctic Ice Sheet dynamics and its interaction with ocean circulation.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct past ice flow directions and retreat patterns by analyzing the orientation and distribution of mega-scale glacial lineations.
• Identify past grounding zones and ice sheet stability by mapping the location and morphology of grounding zone wedges.
• Assess iceberg activity and its impact on the seafloor by examining the density and characteristics of iceberg scours.
• Model sediment transport pathways from the continental slope by correlating bathymetric features with subglacial lake outlets.

Strengths

• Over 7500 nautical miles of continuous multibeam bathymetry and sediment echography survey data.
• Covers a largely unexplored area of the East Antarctic margin between 85°E and 115°E.
• Documents multiple specific glaciomorphological features including iceberg scours and subglacial lakes.

Limitations

• Data is presented as preliminary results in a PDF format, limiting direct machine-readability and analysis.
• The specific row count, column structure, and spatial resolution of the underlying raw data are unknown.
• Geographic scope is limited to the Davis and Mawson Sea shelves, not representative of the entire Antarctic margin.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, from RV Polarstern Expedition PS141.

Collection Method

Continuous multibeam bathymetry and sediment echography surveys.

Time Range

Survey conducted from 06 February to 14 April 2024.

Freshness

Data was collected in early 2024 and presented at a conference in 2024, indicating recent acquisition.

Geography

Davis and Mawson Sea continental shelves, East Antarctica, between 85°E and 115°E.