East Antarctic Subglacial Heat Flow from Hot Rock Distribution

Heat production values for individual rock types along a 275 km transect in Prydz Bay ranged from 0.02 to 66 µW per cubic meter. The dataset, derived from geochemical analysis, describes the distribution of 'hot rocks' containing uranium, thorium, and potassium to improve ice sheet models. Research was conducted by Geoscience Australia and collaborators, with findings published in the Journal of the Geological Society, London.

Use Cases

• Improving predictions of ice sheet behavior and potential sea-level change based on variable sub-glacial heat flow.
• Modeling ice surging and ice stream flow based on regions of elevated geothermal heat.
• Mapping the distribution of Cambrian-aged granites and other heat-producing rocks underneath the East Antarctic ice sheet.

Strengths

• Specific heat production values are provided, ranging from 0.02 to 66 µW per cubic meter.
• Data is based on a 275 km transect along the Prydz Bay coastline, providing a regional-scale measurement.
• Research is linked to a peer-reviewed publication in the Journal of the Geological Society, London.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the specific Prydz Bay transect.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia, Australian Antarctic Division, Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, University of Melbourne, University of Texas.

Collection Method

Geochemical analysis of rock samples collected along a transect.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-23 01:32:17.087268; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Prydz Bay coastline, East Antarctica, from Vestfold Hills to Amery Ice Shelf.