Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T18:07:45.007Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Formation and evolution of buried snowpack deposits in Pearse Valley, Antarctica, and implications for Mars

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 February 2012

J.L. Heldmann ,
M. Marinova ,
K.E. Williams ,
D. Lacelle ,
C.P. Mckay ,
A. Davila ,
W. Pollard  and
D.T. Andersen
J.L. Heldmann*
Affiliation:
NASA Ames Research Center, Division of Space Sciences and Astrobiology, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
M. Marinova
Affiliation:
NASA Ames Research Center, Division of Space Sciences and Astrobiology, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, 560 Third St West, Sonoma, CA 95476, USA
K.E. Williams
Affiliation:
NASA Ames Research Center, Division of Space Sciences and Astrobiology, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, 560 Third St West, Sonoma, CA 95476, USA
D. Lacelle
Affiliation:
Ottawa University, Department of Geography, 60 University St, Ottawa K1N 6N5, Canada
C.P. Mckay
Affiliation:
NASA Ames Research Center, Division of Space Sciences and Astrobiology, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
A. Davila
Affiliation:
NASA Ames Research Center, Division of Space Sciences and Astrobiology, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA SETI Institute/Carl Sagan Center for the Study of Life in the Universe, 189 Bernardo Ave, Mountain View, CA 94041, USA
W. Pollard
Affiliation:
McGill University, Department of Geography, 845 Sherbrooke St West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2T5, Canada
D.T. Andersen
Affiliation:
SETI Institute/Carl Sagan Center for the Study of Life in the Universe, 189 Bernardo Ave, Mountain View, CA 94041, USA
*
[email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Buried snowpack deposits are found within the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, which offers the opportunity to study these layered structures of sand and ice within a polar desert environment. Four discrete buried snowpacks are studied within Pearse Valley, Antarctica, through in situ observations, sample analyses, O-H isotope measurements and numerical modelling of snowpack stability and evolution. The buried snowpack deposits evolve throughout the year and undergo deposition, melt, refreeze, and sublimation. We demonstrate how the deposition and subsequent burial of snow can preserve the snowpacks in the Dry Valleys. The modelled lifetimes of the buried snowpacks are dependent upon subsurface stratigraphy but are typically less than one year if the lag thickness is less than c. 7 cm and snow thickness is less than c. 10 cm, indicating that some of the Antarctic buried snowpacks form annually. Buried snowpacks in the Antarctic polar desert may serve as analogues for similar deposits on Mars and may be applicable to observations of the north polar erg, buried ice at the Mars Phoenix landing site, and observations of buried ice throughout the martian Arctic. Numerical modelling suggests that seasonal snows and subsequent burial are not required to preserve the snow and ice on Mars.

Keywords

McMurdo Dry ValleysPolar Regionssnow ablation
Type
Physical Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 24 , Issue 3 , 24 May 2012 , pp. 299 - 316
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abu-Hamdeh, N.H.Reeder, R.C. 2000. Soil thermal conductivity: effects of density, moisture, salt concentration, and organic matter. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 64, 1285–1290.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boynton, W.V., Feldman, W.C., Squyres, S.W., Prettyman, T.H., Brückner, J., Evans, L.G., Reedy, R.C., Starr, R., Arnold, J.R., Drake, D.M., Englert, P.A.J., Metzger, A.E., Mitrofanov, I., Trombka, J.I., d'Uston, C., Wänke, H., Gasnault, O., Hamara, D.K., Janes, D.M., Marcialis, R.L., Maurice, S., Mikheeva, I., Taylor, G.J., Tokar, R.Shinohara, C. 2002. Distribution of hydrogen in the near surface of Mars: evidence for subsurface ice deposits. Nature, 297, 81–85.Google Scholar
Campbell, I.B.Claridge, G.C.G. 1969. A classification of frigic soils: the zonal soils of the Antarctic continent. Soil Science, 107, 75–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cantor, B.A., James, P.B., Caplinger, M.Wolff, M.J. 2001. Martian dust storms: 1999 Mars Orbiter camera observations. Journal of Geophysical Research, 106, 23 653–23 687.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chinn, T.Cumming, R.J. 1983. Hydrology and glaciology of the Dry Valleys, Antarctica, annual report for 1978–79. Report WS 810, Christchurch: Ministry of Works and Development, 137 pp.Google Scholar
Cline, D.W. 1997. Snow surface energy exchanges and snowmelt at a continental, midlatitude Alpine site. Water Resources Research, 33, 689–701.Google Scholar
Clow, G.D., McKay, C.P., Simmons, G.M. JrWharton, R.A. Jr 1988. Climatological observations and predicted sublimation rates at Lake Hoare, Antarctica. Journal of Climate, 1, 715–728.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Craig, H. 1961. Isotopic variations in meteoric waters. Science, 133, 1702–1703.Google Scholar
Doran, P.T., Dana, G.L., Hastings, J.T.Wharton, R.A. Jr 1995. McMurdo Dry Valleys Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER): LTER automatic weather network (LAWN). Antarctic Journal of the United States, 30(5), 276–280.Google Scholar
Doran, P.T., McKay, C.P., Clow, G.D., Dana, G.L., Fountain, A.G., Nylen, T.Lyons, W.B. 2002. Valley floor climate observations from the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, 1986–2000. Journal of Geophysical Research, 107, 10.1029/2001JD002045.Google Scholar
Dort, W. 1967. Internal structure of Sandy Glacier, southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Journal of Glaciology, 6, 529–540.Google Scholar
Feldman, W.C., Bourke, M.C., Elphic, R.C., Murice, S., Bandfield, J., Prettyman, T.H., Diez, B.Lawrence, D.J. 2007. Hydrogen content of sand dunes within Olympia Undae. Icarus, 196, 422–432.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fenton, L. 2006. Dune migration and slip face advancement in the Rabe Crater dune field, Mars. Geophysical Research Letters, 33, 10.1029/2006GL02133.Google Scholar
Friedmann, I. 1982. Endolithic microorganisms in the Antarctic cold desert. Science, 215, 1045–1053.Google Scholar
Gooseff, M.N., Lyons, W.B., McKnight, D.M., Vaughn, B.H., Fountain, A.G.Dowling, C. 2006. A stable isotopic investigation of a polar desert hydrological system, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research, 38, 60–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Greeley, R., Lancaster, N., Lee, S.Thomas, P. 1992. Martian aeolian processes, sediments, and features. In Kieffer, H.H., Jakosky, B.M., Snyder, C.W.&Matthews, M.S., eds. Mars. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press, 1498 pp.Google Scholar
Head, J.W., Mustard, J.F., Kreslavsky, M.A., Milliken, R.E.Marchant, D.R. 2003. Recent ice ages on Mars. Nature, 426, 797–802.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hendersen, R.A., Prebble, W.M., Hoare, R.A., Popplewell, D.A., House, D.A.Wilson, A.T. 1965. An ablation rate for Lake Fryxell, Victoria Land, Antarctica. Journal of Glaciology, 6, 129–133.Google Scholar
Hendy, C.H. 2000. Late Quaternary lakes in the McMurdo Sound region of Antarctica. Geografiska Annaler, 82, 411–432.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lacelle, D., Davila, A.F., Pollard, W.H., Andersen, D., Heldmann, J., Marinova, M.McKay, C.P. 2011. Stability of massive ground ice bodies in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica: using stable O-H isotope as tracers of sublimation. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 301, 403–411.Google Scholar
Levy, J.S., Head, J.W.Marchant, D.R. 2009. Cold and dry processes in the martian Arctic: geomorphic observations at the Phoenix landing site and comparisons with terrestrial cold desert landforms. Geophysical Research Letters, 36, 10.1029/2009GL040634.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lis, G., Wassenenaar, L.I.Hendy, M.J. 2008. High precision laser spectroscopy D/H and 18O/16O measurements of microliter natural water samples. Analytical Chemistry, 80, 287–293.Google Scholar
McKay, C.P. 2009. Snow recurrence sets the depth of dry permafrost at high elevations in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica. Antarctic Science, 21, 89–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McKay, C.P., Mellon, M.T.Friedmann, I. 1998. Soil temperatures and stability of ice-cemented ground in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Antarctic Science, 10, 31–38.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McKenna Neuman, C. 1993. A review of aeolian transport processes in cold environments. Progress in Physical Geography, 17, 137–155.Google Scholar
Mellon, M.T., Arvidson, R.E., Sizemore, H.G., Searls, M.L., Blaney, D.L., Cull, S., Hecht, M.H., Heet, T.L., Keller, H.U., Lemmon, M.T., Markiewicz, W.J., Ming, D.W., Morris, R.V., Pike, W.T.Zent, A.P. 2009. Ground ice at the Phoenix landing site: stability state and origin. Journal of Geophysical Research, 114, 10.1029/2009JE003417.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nylen, T.H., Fountain, A.G.Doran, P.T. 2004. Climatology of katabatic winds in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Journal of Geophysical Research, 109, 10.1029/2003JD003937.Google Scholar
O'Neil, J.R. 1968. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope fractionation between ice and water. Journal of Physical Chemistry, 72, 3683–3684.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parish, T.R.Bromwich, D.H. 1987. The surface windfield over the Antarctic ice sheets. Nature, 328, 51–54.Google Scholar
Presley, M.A.Christensen, P.R. 1997. Thermal conductivity measurements of particulate materials 1. A review. Journal of Geophysical Research, 102, 6535–6549.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sizemore, H.G., Mellon, M.T.Golombek, M.T. 2009. Ice table depth variability near small rocks at the Phoenix landing site, Mars: a pre-landing assessment. Icarus, 199, 358–369.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, P.H., Tamppari, L.K., Arvidson, R.E. et al. 2009. H2O at the Phoenix landing site. Science, 325, 58–61.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sommerfeld, R.A., Judy, C.Friedman, I. 1991. Isotopic changes during the formation of depth hoar in experimental snowpacks. In Taylor Jr, H.P., O'Neil, J.R.&Kaplan, I.R., eds. Stable isotope geochemistry: a tribute to Samuel Epstein. The Geochemical Society, Special Publication No. 3, 205–209.Google Scholar
Speirs, J.C., McGowan, H.A.Neal, D.T. 2008. Meteorological controls on sand transport and dune morphology in a polar desert: Victoria Valley, Antarctica. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 33, 1875–1891.Google Scholar
Stoker, C.R., Zent, A., Catling, D., Douglas, S., Marshall, J., Archer, D., Clark, B., Kounaves, S., Lemmon, M., Quinn, R., Renno, N., Smith, P.Young, S. 2010. The habitability of the Phoenix landing site. Journal of Geophysical Research, 115, 10.1029/2009JE003421.Google Scholar
Suzuoki, T.Kumura, T. 1973. D/H and 18O/16O fractionation in ice-water systems. Mass Spectroscopy, 21, 229–233.Google Scholar
Svitek, T.Murray, B. 1990. Winter frost at Viking Lander 2 site. Journal of Geophysical Research, 95, 1495–1510.Google Scholar
Vincent, W., ed. 1996. Environmental management of a cold desert ecosystem: the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Reno, NV: Desert Research Institute, University of Nevada Special Publication, 57 pp.Google Scholar
Whiteway, J.A., Komguem, L., Dickinson, C. et al. 2009. Mars water ice clouds and precipitation. Science, 325, 68–70.Google Scholar
Williams, K.E., Toon, O., Heldmann, J.Mellon, M. 2009. Ancient melting of mid-latitude snowpacks on Mars as a water source for gullies. Icarus, 200, 418–425.Google Scholar
Williams, K.E., Toon, O., Heldmann, J., McKay, C.Mellon, M. 2008. Stability of mid-latitude snowpacks on Mars. Icarus, 196, 565–577.Google Scholar
Zurek, R.Martin, L. 1993. Interannual variability of planet-encircling dust storms on Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research, 98, 3247–3259.CrossRefGoogle Scholar