Abstract
Progress in understanding the surface dynamics above the subglacial Lake Vostok is achieved owing to use of the ICESat satellite laser elevation measurements, which enabled us to determine surface fluctuations with precision up to 3 cm. A new idea on punctuated equilibrium of the surface above Lake Vostok is elaborated; this idea is concluded in irregular, sharp vertical displacements of the ice surface by up to 40 cm. Deformation of the surface is accompanied with a common raising or lowering, and with local vertical displacements up to 20 cm in amplitude. It has been proved experimentally that snow transport on the surface above the lake causes only redistribution of snow and forms fractal structures that do not have any effect on surface deformation. The form of the surface is not an inclined plane due to many bends that are particularly related to ice flowing on the lake water area.
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