Accumulation variation in eastern Kemp Land, Antarctica

Abstract

The spatial pattern of accumulation rate for eastern Kemp Land in the elevation range 1850-2700 m is presented together with observations of the physical parameters of snow temperature, average microwave emissivity (19 GHz, H polarization), distribution of depth hoar and firn-crystal diameter. The broad accumulation pattern in the region was found to be significantly low when compared to other coastal areas of East Antarctica such as Wilkes Land. The low accumulation regime is attributed to low atmospheric moisture transport and low penetration of synoptic cyclonic systems on to the coastal slopes. In the absence of high coastal precipitation, the accumulation rate is determined predominantly by surface snow redistribution processes. Attempts to determine accumulation-rate time series using visible layer, δ18O isotope and electrical conductivity stratigraphies were unsuccessful due to the relatively low coastal accumulation rates (less than 280 kg m-2a-1) and the complex modification of precipitation by redistribution processes.δ18O variations of seemingly cyclic nature observed throughout the cores were interpreted as a product of the snow-dune building and erosion processes, together with general redistribution of snows by the surface wind field, under the influence of mesoscale topographic roughness