Frontiers and Opportunities in Antarctic Geosciences * Certosa di Pontignano * 29-31 July 2004
Science Opportunities for Antarctic Geology and Geophysics during the
International Polar Year 2007/08
M. STUDINGER
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York – USA
mstuding@ldeo.columbia.edu
The Antarctic continent plays a central role in the climatic and geodynamic evolution of the Earth. Ice sheet dynamics
and global environmental change are intimately linked to Antarctic geological processes, yet on the eve of the 50 th
anniversary of the International Geophysical Year, we lack fundamental geologic and geophysical data from the deep
interior of this vast continent. The International Polar Year is presently being planned for the 2007-08 period. One of its
goals is to advance our understanding of large-scale environmental change in the polar regions by means of enhanced
observations and modeling. A major aspect of the International Polar Year is the training of the next generation of polar
scientists. The International Polar Year will include coordinated outreach activities to engage and excite the public and
increase the public awareness about polar regions.
Within the framework of the upcoming International Polar Year several science opportunities for Antarctic geology and
geophysics exist. Of particular interest are key issues in solid earth science that can only be addressed by a coordinated
effort between several nations such as the first-order geophysical mapping of tectonic and geologic structures in the
interior of East Antarctica. Given the extensive ice cover, airborne geophysical data is the best and most cost-effective
method to characterize broad areas of sub-ice basement and expand our knowledge of East Antarctica, the last
continental frontier on Earth. Several aerogeophysical surveys in regions adjacent to the Gamburtsev Subglacial
Mountains have been proposed by various international groups for the International Polar Year and plans to develop a
long-range research aircraft will be discussed (see http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/~mstuding/LCSB/). A number of
basic problems can be addressed with a long-range research aircraft that are unique to the Antarctic continent and the
polar regions. For example, the interplay between geologic processes, ice sheet dynamics and climate change is of
importance for the global environment and affects long-term sea level changes. The onset of glaciation in East
Antarctica is only poorly understood. Preliminary ice sheet and climate models suggest that the elevated topography of
the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains and the episodic uplift of the Transantarctic Mountains play important roles in
the evolution of the ice sheet, and thus, climate.
Subglacial lakes and their potential for harboring life have great potential for geologic and geophysical research. Of
particular interest for geologists and geophysicists are the tectonic framework of subglacial lakes and the nature of
sediments at the lake bottom. The recovery of sediment samples from the bottom of a subglacial lake requires a
coordinated international effort and could become a key project for the International Polar Year.