Recent local geodynamic processes in the Penola Strait_Lemaire Channel fault area (West Antarctica)

Abstract

We present the crustal deformation field in the Penola Strait – Lemaire Channel fault area (West Antarctica), based on the analysis of the 5 seasonal cycles of static GNSS survey. This 5 GNSS campaigns were conducted with approximately a 16-year interval from 2003 to 2019. The analyses indicate that average linear velocities of horizontal movements are multidirectional but no larger than 1 – 2 mm/yr. Average linear velocities of vertical movements are no larger than ±3 mm/yr. In the present work scheme of vertical and horizontal movements has been drawn out. The obtained results correlate well with the movements of the surrounding GNSS stations. Based on the analysis of spatial distribution of the Earth’s surface dilatation velocity the zones of extreme compression and expansion values were revealed. The analyses of spatial distribution of the Earth’s surface total shear velocity indicate that the studied region is horizontally heterogeneous. Based on the analysis of obtained results, a new kinematic model of fault area was developed. The possibility of using static GNSS survey to study recent local geodynamic processes in Antarctica has been demonstrated.

Results of long-term tectonomagnetic research in the Akademik Vernadsky station region, the West Coast of the Antarctic Peninsula

“…Ukrainian Antarctic Journal, 20(1), 2022, https://doi.org/10.33275/1727-7485.1.2022 tical motions of lowering and horizontal shifts to SE predominate. In the Western tectonic area, the uplifting and horizontal motions to NW predominate (Savchyn et al, 2021a;2021b).…”

The first Ukrainian permanent GNSS station in Antarctica: processing and analysis of observation data

“…These campaigns were part of the Geodetic Infrastructure of Antarctica (GIANT). There are plenty of examples of using epoch GNSS stations (Cisak et al, 2008;Kylchitskiy et al, 2010;Tretyak et al, 2016;Savchyn et al, 2021;Mat veev et al, 2015) in this region for geodynamic research. All presented works have made a significant contribution to the GNSS research of the Antarctic Peninsula.…”

“…As part of the 24 th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition (January-April 2019), there was installed and put into operation a permanent GNSS station ASAV near the Ukrainian Antarctic Akademik Vernadsky sta tion (Savchyn et al, 2021). The installed GNSS station was equipped with a GNSS receiver NovAtel PwrPak7 І.…”

“…According to Kylchitskiy et al (2010), Tretyak et al (2016), and Savchyn et al (2021, active local geodynamic processes are occurring in the Penola-Lemaire fault area. The authors also note that periodic satellite measurements do not detect short-term current local geodynamic processes, meaning that to track and interpret them, one would need to make more frequent measurement cycles; for continuous monitoring and evaluation of danger, a permanent GNSS network should be installed.…”