High-resolution elevation mapping of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, and surrounding regions

Abstract. We present detailed surface elevation measurements for the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica derived from aerial lidar surveys flown in the austral summer of 2014–2015 as part of an effort to understand geomorphic changes over the past decade. Lidar return density varied from 2 to > 10 returns m−2 with an average of about 5 returns m−2. Vertical and horizontal accuracies are estimated to be 7 and 3 cm, respectively. In addition to our intended targets, other ad hoc regions were also surveyed including the Pegasus flight facility and two regions on Ross Island, McMurdo Station, Scott Base (and surroundings), and the coastal margin between Cape Royds and Cape Evans. These data are included in this report and data release. The combined data are freely available at https://doi.org/10.5069/G9D50JX3.

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High-resolution elevation mapping of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica and surrounding regions

10.5194/essd-2016-63 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andrew G. Fountain ◽

Juan C. Fernandez-Diaz ◽

Joseph Levy ◽

Michael Gooseff ◽

David J. Van Horn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ad Hoc ◽

Austral Summer ◽

Mcmurdo Dry Valleys ◽

Dry Valleys ◽

The Past ◽

Detailed Surface ◽

Mcmurdo Station ◽

Coastal Margin ◽

Lidar Return ◽

Combined Data

Abstract. We present detailed surface elevation measurements for the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica derived from aerial lidar surveys flown in the austral summer of 2014–2015 as part of an effort to understand geomorphic changes over the past decade. Lidar return density varied from 2 to > 10 returns m−2 with an average of about 5 returns m−2. vertical and horizontal accuracies are estimated to be 7 cm and 3 cm, respectively. In addition to our intended targets, other ad hoc regions were also surveyed including the Pegasus flight facility and two regions on Ross Island, McMurdo Station, Scott Base (and surroundings), and the coastal margin between Cape Royds and Cape Evans. These data are included in this report and data release. The combined data is freely available at doi:10.5069/G9D50JX3.

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Austral summer foehn winds over the McMurdo dry valleys of Antarctica from Polar WRF

Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society ◽

10.1002/qj.2278 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 140 (683) ◽

pp. 1825-1837 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Daniel F. Steinhoff ◽

David H. Bromwich ◽

Johanna C. Speirs ◽

Hamish A. McGowan ◽

Andrew J. Monaghan

Keyword(s):

Austral Summer ◽

Mcmurdo Dry Valleys ◽

Dry Valleys

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A Late Holocene desiccation of Lake Hoare and Lake Fryxell, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Antarctic Science ◽

10.1017/s0954102098000340 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 247-256 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

W.B. Lyons ◽

S.W. Tyler ◽

R.A. Wharton ◽

D.M. McKnight ◽

B.H. Vaughn

Keyword(s):

Late Holocene ◽

Mcmurdo Dry Valleys ◽

Published Data ◽

Dry Valleys ◽

Humid Climate ◽

The Past ◽

Victoria Land ◽

History Of ◽

Lake Fryxell ◽

Climatic History

Stable isotope data from waters of lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) of southern Victoria Land, Antarctica are presented in order to establish the climatic history of this region over the past two millennia. New data from Lake Fryxell and Lake Hoare in Toylor Valley, along with previously published data from Lake Vanda, Wright Valley and Lake Bonney, Taylor Valley are used to infer the recent climatic history of MDV. Lakes Vanda, Fryxell and Bonney appear to have lost their ice covers and evaporated to small, hypersaline ponds by 1000 to ~1200 yr BP. Lake Hoare either desiccated or did not exist prior to 1200 yr BP. These data indicate a major lowering of lake level prior to ~1000 yr BP, followed by a warmer and/or more humid climate since then.

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Inland diatoms from the McMurdo Dry Valleys and James Ross Island, Antarctica

Botany ◽

10.1139/b08-100 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 86 (12) ◽

pp. 1378-1392 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

R. M.M. Esposito ◽

S. A. Spaulding ◽

D. M. McKnight ◽

B. Van de Vijver ◽

K. Kopalová ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Austral Summer ◽

Mcmurdo Dry Valleys ◽

Size Spectrum ◽

Dry Valleys ◽

Dominant Group ◽

Lower Range ◽

Glacial Ice ◽

Dry Valley ◽

James Ross Island ◽

Harsh Conditions

Diatom taxa present in the inland streams and lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys and James Ross Island, Antarctica, are presented in this paper. A total of nine taxa are illustrated, with descriptions of four new species ( Luticola austroatlantica sp. nov., Luticola dolia sp. nov., Luticola laeta sp. nov., Muelleria supra sp. nov.). In the perennially ice-covered lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, diatoms are confined to benthic mats within the photic zone. In streams, diatoms are attached to benthic surfaces and within the microbial mat matrix. One species, L. austroatlantica, is found on James Ross Island, of the southern Atlantic archipelago, and the McMurdo Dry Valleys. The McMurdo Dry Valley populations are at the lower range of the size spectrum for the species. Streams flow for 6–10 weeks during the austral summer, when temperatures and solar radiation allow glacial ice to melt. The diatom flora of the region is characterized by species assemblages favored under harsh conditions, with naviculoid taxa as the dominant group and several major diatom groups conspicuously absent.

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