Aerogeophysical characterization of Titan Dome, East Antarctica, and potential as an ice core target

Abstract

Based on sparse data, Titan Dome has been identified as having a higher probability of containing ice that would capture the middle Pleistocene transition (1.25 to 0.7 Ma). New aerogeophysical observations (radar and laser altimetry) collected over Titan Dome, located about 200 km from the South Pole within the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, were used to characterize the region (e.g., geometry, internal structure, bed reflectivity, and flow history) and assess its suitability as a paleoclimate ice core site. The radar coupled with an available ice core chronology enabled the tracing of dated internal reflecting horizons throughout the region, which also served as constraints on basal ice age modeling. The results of the survey revealed new basal topographic detail and better constrain the ice topographical location of Titan Dome, which differs between community datasets. Titan Dome is not expected to be relevant to the study of the middle Pleistocene transition due to a combination of past fast flow dynamics, the basal ice likely being too young, and the temporal resolution likely being too coarse if 1 Ma ice were to exist.