UC Irvine

A first time description is given of the ice flow at Dome C, Antarctica, around the EPICA drilling site. We used satellite radar altimetry to obtain the precise ice surface topography, airborne radio echo sounding to obtain the ice thickness and satellite SAR interferometry to derive one component of the surface velocity field. The balance flux around the Dome C area is then accurately mapped and comparisons made between driving stress, surface and balance velocity to help us describe the ice flow in the region. As a by-product of the study, we also recover anomalies in the ice flow conditions in sub-glacial lake locations. These effects result from localy invalid shallow-ice approximation. The results of this study from the basis for future investigations of the ice flow conditions at Dome C in relation to ice core interpretation.