Abstract Expanding multibeam bathymetric data coverage over the last two decades has revealed extensive networks of submarine channels incised into bedrock on the Antarctic inner continental shelf. The large dimensions and prevalence of the channels implies the presence of an active subglacial hydrological system beneath the past Antarctic Ice Sheet which we can use to learn more about inaccessible subglacial processes. Here, we map and analyse over 2700 bedrock channels situated across >100,000 km2 of continental shelf in the western Antarctic Peninsula and Amundsen Sea to produce the first inventory of submarine channels on the Antarctic inner continental shelf. Morphometric analysis reveals highly similar distributions of channel widths, depths, cross-sectional areas and geometric properties, with subtle differences between channels in the western Antarctic Peninsula compared to those in the Amundsen Sea. At 75–3400 m wide, 3–280 m deep, 160–290,000 m2 in cross-sectional area, and typically 8 times as wide as they are deep, the channels have similar morphologies to tunnel valleys and meltwater channel systems observed from other formerly glaciated landscapes despite differences in substrate geology and glaciological regime. We propose that the Antarctic bedrock channels formed over multiple glacial cycles through the episodic drainage of at least 59 former subglacial lakes identified on the inner continental shelf.

中文翻译：

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南极内陆架基岩融水通道的形态测量：对通道发育和冰下水文的影响

摘要 过去 20 年扩大的多波束测深数据覆盖范围揭示了在南极大陆架内切入基岩的广泛海底通道网络。通道的大尺寸和普遍性意味着在过去的南极冰盖之下存在一个活跃的冰下水文系统，我们可以利用它来更多地了解难以接近的冰下过程。在这里，我们绘制并分析了位于南极半岛西部和阿蒙森海超过 100,000 平方公里大陆架的 2700 多条基岩通道，以编制南极内陆架海底通道的第一份清单。形态测量分析揭示了通道宽度、深度、横截面积和几何特性的高度相似的分布，与阿蒙森海的通道相比，南极半岛西部的通道之间存在细微差别。在 75-3400 m 宽，3-280 m 深，160-290,000 m2 横截面积，并且通常是深度的 8 倍，这些通道具有与从其他以前观察到的隧道山谷和融水通道系统相似的形态尽管基质地质和冰川状况存在差异，但冰川景观仍然存在。我们认为，南极基岩通道是通过内陆架上至少 59 个前冰下湖泊的偶发性排水在多个冰川循环中形成的。尽管底物地质和冰川状况存在差异，但这些通道的形态与从​​其他以前的冰川景观中观察到的隧道山谷和融水通道系统相似。我们认为，南极基岩通道是通过内陆架上至少 59 个前冰下湖泊的偶发性排水在多个冰川循环中形成的。尽管底物地质和冰川状况存在差异，但这些通道的形态与从​​其他以前的冰川景观中观察到的隧道山谷和融水通道系统相似。我们认为，南极基岩通道是通过内陆架上至少 59 个前冰下湖泊的偶发性排水在多个冰川循环中形成的。