East Antarctic Ice Sheets: Potential for Sub-Glacial Water Based on Temperature Modeling

ORAL

Abstract

This project addressed the issue of whether a sub-glacial lake exists at a location about 10 km from the Amundsen-Scott Station in Antarctica. Computer modeling was used to predict the temperature at the base of the ice sheet to determine whether or not it was actually frozen and thus determine whether it would be possible to drill into the lake without contaminating any potential sub-glacial water systems. Temperature data from the AMANDA (Anarctic Muon and Neutrino Detector Array) and equations from Paterson, \textit{The Physics of Glaciers}, were used to build the model and approximate values which are not known well experimentally. The results indicated that there is a reasonable chance that liquid water exists at the base and thus that careful consideration should be taken before drilling at this site.

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Authors

  • Annette Borchard

    University of Dallas

  • Edward Fry

    Institute for Astronomy, ETH, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, Department of Physics, ETH, Texas A&M University, LANL, American Physical Society, Society of Physics Students National Office, Texas Tech University, University of Texas, Universite d'Orleans, Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Texas A\&M University-Commerce, Texas A\&M University, Institute for Quantum Electronics, ETH Zurich, Department of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Rice University, University of Houston, Bucknell University, Department of Physics, Texas A\&M University, Air Force Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, Texas A\&M University, College Station, TX 77843, Department of Physics and MIC, Texas A\&M University, University of Texas at Arlington, Changwon National University, University of North Texas, Southwestern University, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Dallas, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Naval Air Systems Command, Institute for Quantum Studies and Department of Physics, Texas A\&M University, College Station, TX 77843, The University of Texas at Arlington, TCU, ELTE, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, Dept. of Physics, Texas A\&M University-Commerce, Univ. of North Texas, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Oswego State University of New York, Lee College, University of Texas at San Antonio, UTSA-Professor, UNT, Sam Houston State University, Sewanee: The University of the South, Director of Education for NSF, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics and Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Sackler School of Chemistry, Tel-Aviv University, Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Houston, TX 77005, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, University of Texas at Austin

  • Edward Fry

    Institute for Astronomy, ETH, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, Department of Physics, ETH, Texas A&M University, LANL, American Physical Society, Society of Physics Students National Office, Texas Tech University, University of Texas, Universite d'Orleans, Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Texas A\&M University-Commerce, Texas A\&M University, Institute for Quantum Electronics, ETH Zurich, Department of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Rice University, University of Houston, Bucknell University, Department of Physics, Texas A\&M University, Air Force Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, Texas A\&M University, College Station, TX 77843, Department of Physics and MIC, Texas A\&M University, University of Texas at Arlington, Changwon National University, University of North Texas, Southwestern University, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Dallas, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Naval Air Systems Command, Institute for Quantum Studies and Department of Physics, Texas A\&M University, College Station, TX 77843, The University of Texas at Arlington, TCU, ELTE, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, Dept. of Physics, Texas A\&M University-Commerce, Univ. of North Texas, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Oswego State University of New York, Lee College, University of Texas at San Antonio, UTSA-Professor, UNT, Sam Houston State University, Sewanee: The University of the South, Director of Education for NSF, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics and Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Sackler School of Chemistry, Tel-Aviv University, Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Houston, TX 77005, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, University of Texas at Austin

  • Edward Fry

    Institute for Astronomy, ETH, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, Department of Physics, ETH, Texas A&M University, LANL, American Physical Society, Society of Physics Students National Office, Texas Tech University, University of Texas, Universite d'Orleans, Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Texas A\&M University-Commerce, Texas A\&M University, Institute for Quantum Electronics, ETH Zurich, Department of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Rice University, University of Houston, Bucknell University, Department of Physics, Texas A\&M University, Air Force Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, Texas A\&M University, College Station, TX 77843, Department of Physics and MIC, Texas A\&M University, University of Texas at Arlington, Changwon National University, University of North Texas, Southwestern University, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Dallas, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Naval Air Systems Command, Institute for Quantum Studies and Department of Physics, Texas A\&M University, College Station, TX 77843, The University of Texas at Arlington, TCU, ELTE, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, Dept. of Physics, Texas A\&M University-Commerce, Univ. of North Texas, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Oswego State University of New York, Lee College, University of Texas at San Antonio, UTSA-Professor, UNT, Sam Houston State University, Sewanee: The University of the South, Director of Education for NSF, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics and Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Sackler School of Chemistry, Tel-Aviv University, Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Houston, TX 77005, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, University of Texas at Austin