The structural glaciology and movement of the Victoria Upper Glacier, Victoria Valley, Antarctica

The structure and movement of the Victoria Upper Glacier, Victoria Valley, was investigated over several seasons. A network of 13 points on the glacier surface were marked with bamboo flags and the position recorded by GPS (over a three week period and re-measured the following season) to measure velocity and calculate surface strain. A tunnel at the terminus of the glacier was excavated over two seasons. Strain arrays and plumblines were installed to measure tunnel deformation and movement. The chemical and physical composition of ice samples from the tunnel was analysed. Three 5m ice cores were taken from Victoria Upper Lake and analysed. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were carried out to survey the morphology and structure of the apron of the Victoria Upper Glacier. 18 lines crossing the glacier-lake contact and 4 lines from the glacier surface were shot. Ice and sediment samples were collected for laboratory analysis. Two blocks of ice were sampled that spanned the contact between basal ice and meteoric origin ice at the terminus of the glacier and analyzed for a series of triaxial and cyclic loading analysis tests. A terrestrial laser scanner was used to undertake a 3D survey of the glacier margins to characterize the glacier apron, measure the glacier cliff and to calculate glacier cliff movement. 3D models of the glacier margin were created. A potentiometer was installed at the base of the glacier to characterise the pattern of basal ice deformation and identify flow heterogeneities.