An Ablation Rate for Lake Fryxell, Victoria Land, Antarctica

Abstract

AbstractThe average yearly net ablation rate on permanently ice-covered Lake Fryxell, Victoria Land, Antarctica, is 30 to 40 cm. This figure was calculated by a novel method utilizing a record of ablation which is incorporated in the ice cover of the lake. These values are higher than those measured on Ross Island 80 km. to the east; the difference in ablation rates for the two areas is attributed to the prevalence of katabatic winds in the climate of Taylor Valley. The Lake Fryxell ablation figure is applied to nearby Canada and Commonwealth Glaciers in the calculation of their ice budgets.