Glacial Seafloor Features From East Antarctic Continental Shelf Survey

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 preliminary results revealing sediment transport features and glacial landscapes. This data aims to reconstruct ice sheet dynamics in a previously underexplored region of East Antarctica.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct past ice sheet extent and flow direction by mapping mega-scale glacial lineations and grounding zone wedges.
• Analyze iceberg impact and distribution by identifying and quantifying iceberg scours on the seafloor.
• Model subglacial hydrological systems by locating and characterizing subglacial lake features within the acoustic data.
• Investigate sediment transport pathways from the continental slope by analyzing the recorded sediment echography profiles.

Strengths

• Over 7500 nautical miles of continuous hydroacoustic survey data provides a substantial spatial footprint.
• Data reveals multiple specific glacial feature types including iceberg scours, mega-scale glacial lineations, and subglacial lakes.

Limitations

• Data is described as preliminary results, indicating it may not be a final, fully processed product.
• The specific number of data points, rows, or individual features mapped is not provided.

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 the record was last updated in 2026, indicating recent activity.

Geography

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