@article {4101, title = {High-resolution elevation mapping of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, and surrounding regions}, journal = {Earth System Science Data}, volume = {9}, year = {2017}, month = {07/2017}, pages = {435 - 443}, abstract = {

We present detailed surface elevation measurements for the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica derived from aerial lidar surveys flown in the austral summer of 2014\–2015 as part of an effort to understand geomorphic changes over the past decade. Lidar return density varied from 2 to \> 10 returns m\−2\ with an average of about 5 returns m\−2. Vertical and horizontal accuracies are estimated to be 7 and 3 cm, respectively. In addition to our intended targets, other ad hoc regions were also surveyed including the Pegasus flight facility and two regions on Ross Island, McMurdo Station, Scott Base (and surroundings), and the coastal margin between Cape Royds and Cape Evans. These data are included in this report and data release. The combined data are freely available at\ https://doi.org/10.5069/G9D50JX3.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.5194/essd-9-435-2017}, url = {https://www.earth-syst-sci-data.net/9/435/2017/essd-9-435-2017.pdf}, author = {Andrew G Fountain and Fernandez-Diaz, Juan C. and Maciek K. Obryk and Joseph S. Levy and Michael N. Gooseff and David J. Van Horn and Morin, P and Shrestha, Ramesh} } @article {3209, title = {Hyperspectral measurements of wet, dry and saline soils from the McMurdo Dry Valleys: soil moisture properties from remote sensing}, journal = {Antarctic Science}, volume = {26}, year = {2014}, month = {10/2014}, pages = {565 - 572}, abstract = {

Soil moisture is a spatially heterogeneous quantity in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica that exerts a large influence on the biological community and on the thermal state of Dry Valleys permafrost. The goal of this project was to determine whether hyperspectral remote sensing techniques could be used to determine soil moisture conditions in the Dry Valleys. We measured the spectral reflectance factors of wetted soil samples from the Dry Valleys under natural light conditions and related diagnostic spectral features to surface layer soil moisture content. Diagnostic water absorption features in the spectra at 1.4 \µm and 1.9 \µm were present in all samples, including samples doped with high concentrations of chloride salts. The depth of the 1.4 \µm absorption is shown to increase linearly with increasing gravimetric water content. These results suggest that airborne hyperspectral imaging of the Dry Valleys could generate soil moisture maps of this environment over large spatial areas using non-invasive remote-sensing techniques.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, issn = {0954-1020}, doi = {10.1017/S0954102013000977}, url = {http://www.journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0954102013000977}, author = {Joseph S. Levy and Nolin, Anne and Andrew G Fountain and Head, James W.} } @article {1095, title = {How big are the McMurdo Dry Valleys? Estimating ice-free area using Landsat image data}, journal = {Antarctic Science}, volume = {25}, year = {2013}, month = {02/2013}, pages = {119 - 120}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1017/S0954102012000727}, author = {Joseph S. Levy} } @article {1121, title = {Hypersaline {\textquotedblleft}wet patches{\textquotedblright} in Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, journal = {Geophysical Research Letters}, volume = {39}, year = {2012}, month = {03/2012}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1029/2012GL050898}, author = {Joseph S. Levy and Andrew G Fountain and Kathleen A. Welch and W. Berry Lyons} }