02119nas a2200217 4500008004100000245007600041210006900117260001200186520131800198653001101516653003001527653002801557653002201585653002401607653001201631653001801643100002401661700002101685700002001706856017501726 2020 eng d00aGIS tool to predict photosynthetically active radiation in a Dry Valley0 aGIS tool to predict photosynthetically active radiation in a Dry c04/20203 a

Understanding primary productivity is a core research area of the National Science Foundation's Long-Term Ecological Research Network. This study presents the development of the GIS-based Topographic Solar Photosynthetically Active Radiation (T-sPAR) toolbox for Taylor Valley. It maps surface photosynthetically active radiation using four meteorological stations with ~20 years of data. T-sPAR estimates were validated with ground-truth data collected at Taylor Valley's major lakes during the 2014–15 and 2015–16 field seasons. The average daily error ranges from 0.13 mol photons m-2 day-1 (0.6%) at Lake Fryxell to 3.8 mol photons m-2 day-1 (5.8%) at Lake Hoare. We attribute error to variability in terrain and sun position. Finally, a user interface was developed in order to estimate total daily surface photosynthetically active radiation for any location and date within the basin. T-sPAR improves upon existing toolboxes and models by allowing for the inclusion of a statistical treatment of light attenuation due to cloud cover. The T-sPAR toolbox could be used to inform biological sampling sites based on radiation distribution, which could collectively improve estimates of net primary productivity, in some cases by up to 25%.

10aArcMap10aautomated weather station10adigital elevation model10aice-covered lakes10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10aR model10aTaylor Valley1 aAcosta, Dimitri, R.1 aDoran, Peter, T.1 aMyers, Madeline uhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antarctic-science/article/gis-tool-to-predict-photosynthetically-active-radiation-in-a-dry-valley/BD0BE4FF6A8F3DAAF32D69879728707802633nas a2200133 4500008004100000245016300041210006900204260005700273490000900330520205900339100002202398700002102420856005802441 2018 eng d00aGroundwater and thermal legacy of a large paleolake in Taylor Valley, East Antarctica as evidenced by airborne electromagnetic and sedimentological techniques0 aGroundwater and thermal legacy of a large paleolake in Taylor Va aBaton Rouge, LAbLouisiana State Universityc07/20180 vM.S.3 a

During the Last Glacial Maximum, grounded ice in the Ross Sea extended into the otherwise ice-free McMurdo Dry Valleys, creating a series of large ice dammed paleolakes. Grounded ice within the mouth of Taylor Valley allowed for lake levels to reach elevations not possible at modern day and formed what is known as Glacial Lake Washburn (GLW). GLW extended from the eastern portion of Taylor Valley roughly 20 km west to a level ~300 m higher than modern day Lake Fryxell. The formation and existence of GLW has been debated, though previous studies correlate the timing of GLW with early Holocene grounded ice. Evidence of GLW has largely been constrained to the interpretation of glacial deposits and fluvial features such as lacustrine deposits, strandlines, and preserved paleodeltas. GIS and remote sensing techniques paired with regional resistivity data provide new insight into the paleohydrology of the region.

To quantify the extent of GLW, paleodelta locations were mapped using high resolution LiDAR digital elevation models and satellite imagery. Delta topset elevations were correlated between three streams in Fryxell basin to determine paleolake levels. Additionally, mean resistivity maps generated from airborne electromagnetic survey data (SkyTEM) reveal an extensive groundwater system within Fryxell basin which is interpreted as a legacy groundwater signal from GLW. Resistivity data suggests that active permafrost formation has been ongoing since onset of lake drainage, and that lake levels were over 60 m higher than modern only 1,000 – 2,000 yr BP. This coincides with a warmer than modern paleoclimate inferred by ice core records, indicating a dynamic hydrological system that is highly sensitive to small changes in climate. As global temperatures increase, Lake Fryxell will continue to experience highly variable lake levels. Lakes and groundwater within the McMurdo Dry Valleys are critical to understanding impacts on the broader ecosystem which is largely driven by the availability of liquid water.

1 aMyers, Krista, F.1 aDoran, Peter, T. uhttps://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/477602953nas a2200169 4500008004100000245010500041210006900146260001200215300001400227490000700241520241100248100001502659700002302674700002202697700002102719856004302740 2016 eng d00aGrowth dynamics of a laminated microbial mat in response to variable irradiance in an Antarctic lake0 aGrowth dynamics of a laminated microbial mat in response to vari c02/2016 a396 - 4100 v613 a
  1. Laminated microbial mats are important ecosystem components of perennially ice-covered Antarctic dry valley lakes. In order to understand better their response to changing environment, we made observations and carried out a manipulation experiment to determine their response to variations in irradiance in Lake Hoare (77°38′ S, 162°53′ E).
  2. Ice transparency was the most variable parameter that affected benthic light dose, both spatially and between years. Patterns of lamina accrual corresponded to irradiance history, with laminae that were initiated in high transmission years thicker than those from low transmission years.
  3. A shading experiment confirmed that accrual of lamina thickness, calcite precipitation and ash-free dry mass were determined by irradiance, but photosynthetic biomass and phototrophic species composition were less affected.
  4. Buried laminae decomposed only slowly over time, with potentially viable phototrophs many laminae down into the microbial mat. Decay rate increased only slightly with shading.
  5. We conclude that the microbial mats in Lake Hoare are characterised by remarkable stability, with slow accumulation rates and turnover of biomass over time. Photosynthetic biomass and species composition appeared to be stable across long time periods, with interannual variation in lamination pattern due to differential accumulation of extracellular polysaccharide and representing the visible expression of annual growth conditions.
1 aHawes, Ian1 aJungblut, Anne, D.1 aObryk, Maciek, K.1 aDoran, Peter, T. uhttp://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/fwb.1271502215nas a2200205 4500008004100000245009200041210006900133260004000202490001000242520158200252653001501834653001001849653001301859653002401872653001601896653001601912100002201928700002101950856003801971 2014 eng d00aGeophysics, Water Balance, and History of Thick Perennial Ice Covers on Antarctic Lakes0 aGeophysics Water Balance and History of Thick Perennial Ice Cove aChicago, ILbUniversity of Illinois0 vPh.D.3 a

Antarctic lakes are studied as sentinels of future change, for paleolimnological records contained in the sediments, and as habitats for the simple food webs that can exist in inhospitable environments. Understanding how lakes are formed and are sustained in response to landscape and climate conditions is critical in addressing the aforementioned research themes. This thesis is governed by the overarching hypothesis that an understanding of hydrologic and sediment transport processes associated with lake ice formation and preservation can be used to reveal past climatic changes, and further our awareness of current changes in climate and water balance in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica. The first chapter focuses on water loss from closed basin lakes in Taylor Valley, Antarctica, and presents updated estimates of sublimation and ablation rates from long-term empirical measurements. The second and third chapters address the formation of Lake Vida, Antarctica. The former investigates the accretion of a 27 m ice cover, and considers the origin of thick sediment layers in the ice cover, and the latter uses two geophysical methods to quantify the extent and volume of the brine network in the subsurface beneath the lake. The results presented herein advance the study of hydrogeology in continuous permafrost, provide additional evidence for fluctuating climate states in the McMurdo Dry Valleys throughout the mid to late Holocene, and provide a case study for the preservation of water in a cold, desert environment analogous to neighboring planets.

10aAntarctica10abrine10alake ice10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10apolar lakes10asublimation1 aDugan, Hilary, A.1 aDoran, Peter, T. uhttp://hdl.handle.net/10027/1940700619nas a2200193 4500008004100000245006400041210005800105260001100163300001100174490000700185100001700192700002400209700002900233700001700262700002400279700001600303700002100319856008500340 2012 eng d00aThe geochemistry of upland ponds, Taylor Valley, Antarctica0 ageochemistry of upland ponds Taylor Valley Antarctica c2/2012 a3 - 140 v241 aLyons, Berry1 aWelch, Kathleen, A.1 aGardner, Christopher, B.1 aJaros, Chris1 aMoorhead, Daryl, L.1 aKnoepfle, J1 aDoran, Peter, T. uhttp://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=848335100655nas a2200181 4500008004100000245011400041210006900155300000800224490000800232100001400240700001400254700002100268700001800289700001400307700001400321700001300335856012500348 2006 eng d00aGlacial and postglacial sedimentation in the Fryxell basin, Taylor Valley, Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica0 aGlacial and postglacial sedimentation in the Fryxell basin Taylo a3200 v3411 aWagner, B1 aMelles, M1 aDoran, Peter, T.1 aKenig, Fabien1 aForman, S1 aPierau, R1 aAllan, P uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/glacial-and-postglacial-sedimentation-fryxell-basin-taylor-valley-southern-victoria-land00711nas a2200205 4500008004100000245008900041210006900130300001200199490000700211100001700218700002400235700002000259700002000279700002300299700002400322700002100346700001400367700001500381856010900396 2005 eng d00aGroundwater seeps in Taylor Valley Antarctica: An example of a subsurface melt event0 aGroundwater seeps in Taylor Valley Antarctica An example of a su a200-2060 v401 aLyons, Berry1 aWelch, Kathleen, A.1 aCarey, Anne, E.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aFountain, Andrew, G1 aDoran, Peter, T.1 aCsatho, B1 aTremper, C uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/groundwater-seeps-taylor-valley-antarctica-example-subsurface-melt-event00594nas a2200193 4500008004100000245005000041210005000091260003100141100001200172700001400184700001300198700001400211700002100225700001600246700001500262700002900277700001500306856007900321 2004 eng d00aGeochronology of high latitude lake sediments0 aGeochronology of high latitude lake sediments bKluwer Academic Publishers1 aWolf, A1 aMiller, G1 aOlsen, C1 aForman, S1 aDoran, Peter, T.1 aHolmgren, S1 aPienitz, R1 aDouglas, Marianne, S. V.1 aSmol, J.P. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/geochronology-high-latitude-lake-sediments