Subglacial lake classification collection based on radar reflection properties. The Subglacial lakes are separated into four categories specified by radar reflection properties. Additional information includes: latitude, longitude, length (in kilometers), hydro-potential (in meters), bed elevation (in meters above WGS84), and ice thickness (in meters). Source data used to compile this data set were collected between 1998 and 2001.

Definite lakes are brighter than their surroundings by at least 2 dB (relatively bright) and both are consistently reflective (specular) and have a reflection coefficient greater tha -10 dB (absolutely bright).

 Dim lakes are relatively bright and specular but not absolutely bright, indicating nonsteady ice dynamics.

 Fuzzy lakes are both relatively and absolutely bright, but not specular, and may indicate saturated sediments or ‘‘swamps.’’

Indistinct lakes are absolutely bright and specular but no brighter than their surroundings.

Originators: http://nsidc.org/data/docs/agdc/nsidc0336_blankenship/

Publication date: 2009

Data location: \Quantarctica\Scientific\Glaciology\SubglacialLakes\SubglacialLakes_Carter.shp

References: Blankenship, David D., Sasha P. Carter, John W. Holt, David L. Morse, Matthew E. Peters, and Duncan A. Young. 2009. Antarctic Subglacial Lake Classification Inventory. Boulder, Colorado USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center. Digital media.

Editors
Glaciology

Catherine Ritz
catherine.ritz@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr

Anne LeBrocq
A.LeBrocq@exeter.ac.uk