G-167 - Dry Valleys Aeolian Processes
PI: Dr. John Gillies
Project Lead: Jack Gillies
Funding Source: NSF/PLR 0636218
Location: Wright Valley, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
Dates: 2010-01-14 to 2013-05-01
Project Summary
The spatial and temporal patterns of aeolian transport in the McMurdo Dry Valleys are not well understood. In particular, the magnitude and frequency of sediment transport events, the differences between the summer and winter transport regimes, and the flux rates of wind-blown sand are not established. In addition, it is unknown whether the aeolian gravel ripple bedforms in the Dry Valleys are current or relict forms. This project will conduct two, process-based experiments and accompanying morphometric analyses to answer these questions. Researchers will establish sediment-transport measurement systems at four locations in the Victoria, Taylor, and Wright valleys to quantify sediment transport frequency and magnitude. The research team will begin a study designed to quantify the movement rate and form change of very coarse gravel megaripples in the Wright Valley.The project's second season includes the following activities:* Download the collected data and collect the sediment in the traps. At each sediment-transport measurement sites at four locations in three of the Dry Valleys (Victoria, Taylor and Wright), the team will replace anemometers and Safires with newly-calibrated instruments to quantify the sediment-transport frequency and magnitude through the summer of 2008 and winter of 2009.* Map the tracer movements at the coarse gravel megaripples in the Wright Valley and re-survey the ripple morphology to quantify the rate of movement and any form changes. Emplace traction load samplers into the gravel ripple field to quantify the sediment transport of the material moving in contact with the surface.