Bedrock features and ice flow near the EPICA ice core site (Dome C, Antarctica)

Abstract

The precise bedrock topography near the EPICA ice core site, at Dome C in Antarctica exhibits impressive bedrock mountains, bowls and a clear network of elongated valleys. Some of these features are probably tectonic and are likely to be buried pre-ice-sheet landforms. The elongated bedrock valleys are clearly detectable in the surface topography suggesting a large-scale network. The analysis of the relationship between basal and surface elongated structures indicates a damping factor decreasing from 120 near the dome to 80 at few tens of kilometer. There is evidence of presence of subglacial water and of erosed bed, that can play a role of the ice flow. A complete flow modeling, taking into account longitudinal stresses, should be performed around EPICA site in order to improve dating of the ice.