Geophysical characterization of the crust and subglacial sediments near the grounding zone of the Ekström Ice Shelf, East Antarctica, using Magnetotellurics | PRISTINE

Installation of a magnetotelluric station in Antarctica.
Installation of a magnetotelluric station in Antarctica. (Photo: O. Ritter, GFZ)
MT site recording in Antarctica: The flags mark the positions of the sensors (electrodes and induction coil magnetometers).
MT station: The flags mark the positions of the sensors (electrodes and induction coil magnetometers). (Photo: O. Ritter, GFZ)
The repair crew has arrived at the field camp to take care of one of the Pisten Bullies.
The repair crew has arrived at the field camp to take care of one of the Pistenbullys. (Photo: O. Ritter, GFZ)
A 4WD vehicle with trailer used to transport MT equipment.
A 4WD vehicle with trailer used to transport MT equipment. (Photo: O. Ritter, GFZ)

The characterization of the ice-sheet-shelf transition zone and the physical properties of subglacial rocks are key to understanding Antarctic ice sheet dynamics. Despite their importance, local constraints on the grounding zone and associated processes, such as cavity melting and characterization of subglacial rocks and sediments that control basal-drag ice flow remain scarce throughout Antarctica. To improve this situation, we image the electrical conductivity of sediments and bedrock beneath the ice sheet using the Magnetotelluric (MT) method. MT measures the Earth’s response to natural time-varying electromagnetic fields to infer the distribution of electrical conductivity in the subsurface. The method is particularly suited to Antarctica since it has virtually no environmental footprint and does not require the generation or injection of man-made artificial signals. Motivated by this, a multi-method (MT+Seismology+GNSS) field experiment was conducted by AWI and GFZ during the 2022/2023 field seasons over the grounding zone of the Ekström Ice Shelf, East Antarctica, where ice streams feed the shelf.

Time Frame

  • 2024 - 2028 

Funding

  • DFG
  • GFZ
  • AWI

Principal Investigators

Personnel

Cooperations

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