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Uplift of the central transantarctic mountains

Author

Listed:
  • Phil Wannamaker

    (University of Utah/Energy & Geoscience Institute)

  • Graham Hill

    (University of Canterbury, Gateway Antarctica
    Antarctica Scientific Ltd
    Formerly at GNS Science, Natural Hazards Division)

  • John Stodt

    (Numeric Resources LLC)

  • Virginie Maris

    (University of Utah/Energy & Geoscience Institute)

  • Yasuo Ogawa

    (Volcanic Fluid Research Center)

  • Kate Selway

    (Macquarie University)

  • Goran Boren

    (University of Adelaide)

  • Edward Bertrand

    (GNS Science, Natural Hazards Division)

  • Daniel Uhlmann

    (First Light Mountain Guides)

  • Bridget Ayling

    (Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy, University of Nevada)

  • A. Marie Green

    (University of Utah)

  • Daniel Feucht

    (University of Colorado)

Abstract

The Transantarctic Mountains (TAM) are the world’s longest rift shoulder but the source of their high elevation is enigmatic. To discriminate the importance of mechanical vs. thermal sources of support, a 550 km-long transect of magnetotelluric geophysical soundings spanning the central TAM was acquired. These data reveal a lithosphere of high electrical resistivity to at least 150 km depth, implying a cold stable state well into the upper mantle. Here we find that the central TAM most likely are elevated by a non-thermal, flexural cantilever mechanism which is perhaps the most clearly expressed example anywhere. West Antarctica in this region exhibits a low resistivity, moderately hydrated asthenosphere, and concentrated extension (rift necking) near the central TAM range front but with negligible thermal encroachment into the TAM. Broader scale heat flow of east-central West Antarctica appears moderate, on the order of 60–70 mW m−2, lower than that of the U.S. Great Basin.

Suggested Citation

  • Phil Wannamaker & Graham Hill & John Stodt & Virginie Maris & Yasuo Ogawa & Kate Selway & Goran Boren & Edward Bertrand & Daniel Uhlmann & Bridget Ayling & A. Marie Green & Daniel Feucht, 2017. "Uplift of the central transantarctic mountains," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-01577-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01577-2
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    Cited by:

    1. G. J. Hill & P. E. Wannamaker & V. Maris & J. A. Stodt & M. Kordy & M. J. Unsworth & P. A. Bedrosian & E. L. Wallin & D. F. Uhlmann & Y. Ogawa & P. Kyle, 2022. "Trans-crustal structural control of CO2-rich extensional magmatic systems revealed at Mount Erebus Antarctica," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

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