冰厚和冰下地形是南极冰盖的基本特征参数,是南极冰盖底部环境和物质平衡研究的基础。2007/08年,中国第24次南极科学考察期间,运用深部探测冰雷达系统,在东南极位于Dome A区域的我国南极昆仑站周边,开展了沿"中国墙"的冰厚和冰下地形探测。结果显示:沿"中国墙"的冰厚主要分布在1600m-2800m之间,冰厚最大达到3444m,最小为1255m;冰下地形平均高程为1722m,但是最低仅有604 m;相较于分冰岭北侧,分冰岭南侧冰厚较大,冰下地形较低,并且发育了4个明显的冰下深谷。不过,没有发现Gamburtsev冰下山脉区域典型的冰底再冻结现象以及冰下湖和水体的存在。Bedmap 2中沿"中国墙"的冰厚和冰下地形数据与冰雷达测量结果存在一致性,但是分辨率和在冰下地形起伏剧烈区域的准确性上非常有限。通过冰雷达探测得到的沿"中国墙"的冰厚和冰下地形分布,进一步揭示了这一"不可接近区域"的冰盖特征,对于Dome A区域冰盖动力学研究和未来针对Gamburtsev冰下山脉的地质钻探以及深冰芯钻探选址具有重要参考价值。
As fundamental parameters of the Antarctic Ice Sheet,ice thickness and subglacial topography are critical factors for studying the basal conditions and mass balance in Antarctica.During CHINARE 24(the 24 th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition,2007/08),the research team used a deep ice-penetrating radar system to measure the ice thickness and subglacial topography of the "Chinese Wall" around Kunlun Station,East Antarctica.Preliminary results show that the ice thickness varies mostly from 1600 m to 2800 m along the "Chinese Wall",with the thickest ice being 3444 m,and the thinnest ice 1255 m.The average bedrock elevation is 1722 m,while the minimum is just 604 m.Compared with the northern side of the ice divide,the ice thickness is a little greater and the subglacial topography lower on the southern side,which is also characterized by four deep valleys.We found no basal freeze-on ice in the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains area,subglacial lakes,or water bodies along the "Chinese Wall".Ice thickness and subglacial topography data extracted from the Bedmap 2 database along the "Chinese Wall" are consistent with our results,but their resolution and accuracy are very limited in areas where the bedrock fluctuates intensely.The distribution of ice thickness and subglacial topography detected by ice-penetrating radar clarifies the features of the ice sheet in this "inaccessible" region.These results will help to advance the study of ice sheet dynamics and the determination of future locations of the GSM's geological and deep ice core drilling sites in the Dome A region.