Abstract:

The extensive development of subglacial lakes and subglacial water systems in Antarctica have potential effect to not only change the basal environment of the ice sheet and affect the bottom sliding process, but also to desalinate the sea water and reduce the deep temperature of the adjacent ocean currents, contributing to one of the uncertainty factors affecting the stability of the ice sheet and its contribution to global sea level and climate change. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the subglacial hydrology and its influence on the dynamics of the Antarctic ice sheet, the evolution of the Antarctic subglacial landforms, and the interaction between the Antarctic ice sheet and the ocean. The subglacial hydrological system involves a complex set of interactions among various components, including ice sheet, subglacial water, subglacial lake, sediment, bedrock, groundwater, flow channel and ocean components. Scientists can use satellite altimeter and other advanced geophysical methods (such as radio echo sounding detection technology, seismic technology, magnetic exploration technology) to observe and study the Antarctic subglacial water system. In addition, numerical simulation supports modeling of the formation, activity and discharge of the subglacial water and the complex processes of land–water–ocean interaction. This paper summarizes the research progress of Antarctic subglacial lake, Antarctic subglacial hydrological system and simulation, and analyzes the interaction among subglacial hydrology, ice shelf and ocean system, and gives the key research direction of Antarctic subglacial hydrological system in the future.

Key words: subglacial hydrology, Antarctic ice sheet, subglacial lake, grounding zone, ice shelf