Englacial stratigraphy over a newly discovered widespread subglacial hydrology system in Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica

A widespread subglacial hydrology system was recently identified by airborne geophysical survey in Princess Elizabeth Land (PEL), East Antarctica. This subglacial hydrology system is composed of a large subglacial lake (hereby referred as Lake Snow Eagle, LSE) that is over 40 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide, and multiple smaller subglacial water bodies around LSE. The existence of these subglacial water bodies provides important constraints on the basal thermal condition in this area. In this presentation, we propose to show the geophysical evidence supporting the existence of this subglacial hydrology system, and the englacial stratigraphy over this subglacial hydrology system mapped by airborne ice penetrating radar. The englacial stratigraphy provides insight on the basal melting and refreezing patterns of this subglacial hydrology system, as well as the changes of ice flow configuration induced by past subglacial hydraulic activities. From the englacial stratigraphy, we also propose to discuss the spatial variation of the englacial submergence rate, and the impact on the ice sheet dynamics linked to this subglacial hydrology system, which has not been accounted for in numerical ice sheet models.