Directory

Start date:
December 2013
End date:
February 2014
Locations:
Garwood Valley, Lake Hoare, Taylor Valley
Principle Investigator:
Joseph Levy
Organisation:
University of Texas, Austin
This field work has three objectives: (1) Buried Ice Inventory. Comprehensively map and sample the buried ice record present in Garwood Valley in three spatial dimensions, distinguishing buried glacier ice from interbedded river ice; (2) Buried Ice Loss. Quantify the current rate of buried ice removal where ice is exposed, being eroded by the Garwood River, or being removed through thermokarst formation; and (3) Paleo−Landscape Change. Map the sedimentary sequence overlying the buried ice, and extract datable material for environmental change rate calculations. The work entails extensive mapping and sampling activities throughout the valley and neighboring coastal sites. An autonomous meteorological station will be deployed and maintained throughout the duration of the project, including over−winter. A three person team will deploy to Garwood Valley during January of 2014 to establish a tent camp for ~2 weeks. The camp will serve as a base for installing met station instruments and for collecting soil samples and shallow ice cores, conducting surface mapping, and conducting day trips via helicopter to proximal coastal sites to map paleo−ice flow paths based on geological evidence.