Bathymetry and bed conditions of Lago Subglacial CECs, West Antarctica

Abstract Although over 600 Antarctic subglacial lakes have been identified using radar and satellite observations, the bathymetry bed properties, which are key to understanding conditions within lake, determined in very few localities. We present measurements of water column thickness lakebed properties from Lago Subglacial CECs (SLC), located beneath 2653 m ice at Rutford-Institute-Minnesota divide Antarctica. Seismic profiles indicate a maximum 301.3 ± 1.5 m, widest part with an estimated lake volume 2.5 0.3 km 3 . imaging reflection strength base >15 high-porosity fine-grained sediment central section lakebed, consistent depositional sequence age up 0.5 Ma. These along previous modelling, low-energy sedimentary environment long water-residence time. As such, SLC is suitable target for exploration via direct access recover records sheet climate history investigate microbial life periods isolation.