Earth’s Cryosphere, 2022, Vol. XXVI, No. 5, p. 48-60.

SNOW COVER AND GLACIERS

SUPERIMPOSED ICE ON THE BELLINGSHAUSEN DOME, KING GEORGE ISLAND, ANTARCTICA

B.R. Mavlyudov

^{Glaciology Department, Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Staromonetnyj per. 29, Moscow, 119017 Russia
E-mail: bulatrm@bk.ru}

Conditions of the origin, existence, and melting of the superimposed ice are considered for the Bellingshausen Ice Dome on Fildes Peninsula of King George (Waterloo) Island near Antarctic Peninsula. Every year, accumulation of superimposed ice on the ice dome reaches about 15 cm. In years with positive mass balance on the ice dome, the thickness of superimposed ice increases. The maximum measured thickness of perennial superimposed ice on the ice dome is about 145–150 cm reaching 300 cm in some places. Significance of the superimposed ice in the ice mass balance of the Bellingshausen Ice Dome in different years during the observation period from 2007 to 2021 is estimated. It is argued that regime of field observations are necessary for finding seasonal boundary of the superimposed ice as equilibrium line altitude.

Keywords: Bellingshausen Ice Dome, Fildes Peninsula, ice mass balance, superimposed ice

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Recommended citation: Mavlyudov B.R., 2022. Superimposed ice on the Bellingshausen Dome, King George Island, Antarctica. Earth’s Cryosphere 26 (5), 48–60.