Progress in Antarctic marine geophysical research by the Chinese Polar Program

Jinyao, Gao and Zhongyan, Shen and Chunguo, Yang and Wei, Wang and Fei, Ji and Zhaocai, Wu and Xiongwei, Niu and Weifeng, Ding and Dongxu, Li and Qiao, Zhang (2017) Progress in Antarctic marine geophysical research by the Chinese Polar Program. Advances in Polar Science, 28 (4). pp. 256-267.

PDF Download (2MB)

Abstract

Marine geophysical survey by the Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) began with the first science expedition in 1984/1985, although only four cruises were performed in the vicinity of the Antarctic Peninsula between then and 1991/1992. After a 20 year hiatus, Antarctic marine geophysical research was relaunched by the Chinese Polar Environmental Comprehensive Investigation and Assessment Programs (known simply as the Chinese Polar Program) in 2011/2012. Integrated geophysical surveys have been carried out annually since, in Prydz Bay and the Ross Sea. During the last 5 years, we have acquired about 5500 km of bathymetric, gravimetric, and magnetic lines; more than 1800 km of seismic reflection lines; and data from several heat flow and Ocean Bottom Seismometer (OBS) stations. This work has deepened understandings of geophysical features and their implications for geological tectonics and glacial history in Antarctica and its surrounding seas. Compiled Antarctic Bouguer and Airy isostatic gravity anomalies show different features of tectonics between the East Antarctic stability and West Antarctic activity. Calculated magnetic anomalies, heat flow anomalies and lithospheric anisotropy offshore of Prydz Bay may imply high heat capacity of mantle shielded by the continental shelf lithosphere, but high heat dissipation of mantle due to the Cretaceous breakup of Gondwana along the continent and ocean transition (COT), where large sediment ridges would be brought about by the Oligocene ice sheet retreat and would enlarge free-air gravity anomalies. In the western Ross Sea, CHINARE seismic profiles indicate northern termination of the Terror Rift and deposition time of the grounding zone wedge in the northern JOIDES Basin.

Item Type:	Article
Related URLs:
Keywords:	marine geophysics, Chinese Polar Program, Antarctica, gravity, magnetics, seismic strata, Prydz Bay, Ross Sea
Subjects:	Natural Environment > Oceans Natural Environment > Terrestrial
Organizations:	Unspecified
Date Deposited:	07 Nov 2023 12:35
URI:	http://library.arcticportal.org/id/eprint/2644

Actions (login required)

View Item