Summary
of Proposed Field Work (RTZ9) |
(1999-00) |
Project
Information Package |
Transantarctic
Mountains,
WLK/RBG
Corridor |
| Principal Investigators: | ||
|
Robin
E. Bell |
W.
Roger Buck Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Oceanographic Building Room 107 Route 9W Palisades, NY 10964 (914) 356-8592 buck@ldeo.columbia.edu |
Donald
Blankenship Institute for Geophysics The University of Texas at Austin 4412 Spicewood Springs Rd., Bldg. 600 Austin, TX 78759 (512) 471-0489 (512) 471-0999 blank@utig.ig.utexas.edu |
| Project Objectives: |
| 1. Determine the architecture of the TAM rift system. |
| a. Determine distribution and structure of sedimentary basins, glacial erosion, and mafics |
| b. Conduct three long wavelength transects utilizing gravimetry, magnetics, ice penetrating RADAR, and ice surface measurements |
| 2. Quantify geodynamic mechanisms leading to extreme rift flank uplift |
| 3. Test geodynamic models to understand TAM dynamics and rift flank uplift in general. |
| Summary from SOAR proposal response: |
| The 1999/2000 season targets are the WIlkes Basin corridor and the Robb Glacier line. |
| The Wilkes Basin Corridor extends from Beaufort Island, north of McMurdo inland toward Dome C. The survey covers an 1170km x 100km area across the Wilkes Subglacial Basin in East Antarctica. Long lines are spaced 10km aprt. Cross ties are spaced every 30km. SOAR anticiapates it will take 37 flights to complete the corridor. |
| The Robb Glacier line is an approximately 400km line beginning over the ROss Ice Shelf at Robb Glacier, extending over the TAM and into East Antarctica. The line will be flown twice. Two flight periods will be required to complete the survey. |
| SOAR will provide transect data products of gravity, magnetics, radar, laser altimeter, and GPS. |
| Flight Information: | |||||||||||||||||||
| A. WLK flight Targets: The WIlkes corridor extended approximately 1145km, from McMurdo to the Italian Dome C encampment. The corridor is subdivided into two main blocks, E and W. Each block is approximately 572km long by 117km wide. Twelve lines were spaced 10.6 km. Tie lines were spaced 31.8 km. An additional block, the WS block, was to be flown as part of an agreement to compensate the Italian aerogeophysical community for logistical support at Dome C. This block overlapped but offset the W. block by 5.3km. | |||||||||||||||||||
| The Robb Glacier transect is approximately 275km long, extending from the Ross Ice Shelf, over Robb Glacier, and inland over the TAM.The line is to be flown twice over a single flight. This transect will require additional fixed wing support to move SOAR personnel and equipment to the Moody Glacier Camp prior to survey operations in order to establish base station GPS receivers and magnetometers. | |||||||||||||||||||
| B. Coordinate Systems: | |||||||||||||||||||
| WLK: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinate System | Lambert Conformal Conic | ||||||||||||||||||
| Grid Origin Lat, Long (deg) | -77.63, 160 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Grid Origin Shift X,Y (m): | 0.0, 0.0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Grid Rotation (deg): | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Standard Parallels (deg): | -75.0, -77.0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Semi-major, semi-minor axes (m) | 6378137.0, 6356752.3141 | ||||||||||||||||||
| RBG: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinate System | Lambert Conformal Conic | ||||||||||||||||||
| Grid Origin Lat, Long (deg): | -83, 163 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Grid Origin Shift X,Y (m): | 0.0, 0.0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Grid Rotation (deg): | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Standard Parallels (deg): | -82.0, -84.0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Semi-major, semi-minor axes (m): | 6378137.0, 6356752.3141 | ||||||||||||||||||
| C. Elevations: Surveys will be flown 350m above the highest elevation in the block. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Wilkes Basin Corridor: | |||||||||||||||||||
| East Block: | 3,050m = 10,000' | ||||||||||||||||||
| West Block: | 3,720m = 12,200' | ||||||||||||||||||
| WS Block: | 3,720m = 12,200' | ||||||||||||||||||
| Robb Glacier Transect: | 3,850m = 12,600' | ||||||||||||||||||
| D. Radar Settings: Radar settings were 250 ns pulsewidth, 4MHz bandwidth, 80µs pulse interval, 2048 returns stacked | |||||||||||||||||||
| E. Radar Blanking: No radar blanking necessary. | |||||||||||||||||||
| F. Radar Altimeter: The radar altimeter will be used at pilot's discretion. | |||||||||||||||||||
| G. Extended Run-ins and Run-outs: 15.9km run-ins and run-outs with explicit waypoints | |||||||||||||||||||
| H. Communication of Flight Plans: Designated points of contact between pilots and SOAR will be JWH and VEL. |
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| I. Flight Sequencing: Sequencing for the WIlkes Basin Corridor is time critical. The first stage of the WIlkes Basin West block flights will be located at NGD with only two crew members manning MID. 7-8 personnel will shift from NGD to MID around 12/5/99, leaving 2 crew members at NGD. Surveying of the East block will commence after the two NGD crew members are moved to DMC around 12/11/99. Survey will continue until both crews pull out of MID and DMC on 12/23/99 | |||||||||||||||||||
| The Robb Glacier Transect will be flown during the period between 11/29/99 and 12/5/99. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Flights scheduled as weather permits. | |||||||||||||||||||
| J. Flight Windows: There will be three flight windows per day and one no-fly window consistent with a daily magnetic noisy period. FLights will be during the following GMT periods: | |||||||||||||||||||
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| K. Flight Planning Documents: FLight planning documents will be prepared by JWH and VEL and distributed to flight and ground crews prior to each flight. Copies of all flight plans are saved as part of SOAR flight logs. | |||||||||||||||||||
| L. Reflight Criteria: Reflights will occur in sequence until the project is completed. SOAR will survey the corridor until the end of the time allotted for use of NGD, MID, and DMC resources, or until the survey is completed, whichever occurs first. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M. Weather Contingencies: Climb in 1000' increments to avoid icing until data impacted (i.e. losing radar bottom signal). Descent to initial survey altitude allowed if certain no further climbs would be required. | |||||||||||||||||||
| N. Leap Second: There is no leap second at the end of December 1999. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O. Gravity Ties: Gravity data will be collected at MCM, NGD, MID, DMC, and again at MID. Gravity data will then be collected at MID, Terra Nova Bay, MCM and NGD. | |||||||||||||||||||
| P. Base Station Issues: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Wilkes Basin: | |||||||||||||||||||
| E
Block: NGD and MID |
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| Robb Glacier Transect: | |||||||||||||||||||
| The Robb Glacier Transect will be completed using the Moody Glacier Camp as a refueling stop and location for base station GPS receivers and magnetometers. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Q. QC Review: Data will be broken out immediately after a flight. Each flight line will be given an initial review and rated for overall data quality by a member of the Experiment Design group or other trained personnel. Determination if reflights are necessary will be made based on QC results. Science observers in the field may have access to QC products. | |||||||||||||||||||
| R. GPS mask angle: 10° unless holes are introduced, then decrease to 5°. | |||||||||||||||||||
| S. PST Names: | |||||||||||||||||||
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