THE GIANT-LISSA RESEARCH PROJECT
Description
With the support of the Belgian Science Policy and within the framework of the Belgian Antarctic Research Expedition (BELARE) operated by the International Polar Foundation, the Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB) in collaboration with the Luxembourg University (LU) is installing instruments collecting since February 2009 geodetic and seismological data at the newly built Princess Elisabeth base. These data will contribute to a better understanding of the current mass balance of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, as well as to gain insight into the deep structure of the continent and the local and regional intra-plate seismicity.
BELARE 2008-2009Two GPS antennas and receivers from ROB and LU were installed on the granitic ridge about 350 m away from the base. In 2009, the mean position computed with the two antennas was lat=71°56’48S, long=23°20’46E, elev=1390m with precision of 1.9mm, 3.2mm and 4.2mm for the east, north and vertical component respectively. |
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BELARE 2009-2010One broadband borehole seismometer has been installed 13 m deep into the granitic ridge about 300 m away from the base. Only 5 days after the installation, the seismometer recorded the magnitude 8.8 Chile earthquake that occured more than 6000 km away. |
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BELARE 2010-2011Gravity measurements started in 2011 with annual absolute gravity campaigns with a FG05 instrument and temporary relative measurements and were conducted by our colleagues from University of Luxembourg.The first absolute gravity measurements gave g = 9.8230160266 ± 0.88.10-9 m.s-2 The relative measurements allowed to investigate the ocean loading tide effects at the Princess Elisabeth base. |
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BELARE 2011-2012Two surface seismometers were installed during the expedition. - One permanent seismometer at the Princess Elisabeth base will allow for the first time to collect data recorded during the harsh winter. - One temporary seismometer at the Gunnestadbreen glacier will allow to detect ice-quakes. This 10 km wide glacier represents the main pathway for the ice stream flowing from the Antarctic plateau towards the coast 300 km further north. |
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Members
Project leader:- Thierry Camelbeeck (Royal Observatory of Belgium)
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Wim Aerts(Royal Observatory of Belgium)
Nicolas Bergeot(Royal Observatory of Belgium)
Carine Bruyninx(Royal Observatory of Belgium)
Olivier Francis(University of Luxembourg)
Gilbert Klein(University of Luxembourg)
Denis Lombardi(Royal Observatory of Belgium)
Giovanni Rapagnani(Royal Observatory of Belgium)
Michel van Camp(Royal Observatory of Belgium)
Tonie van Dam(University of Luxembourg)
Other research projects related to the Princess Elisabeth base
the Belatmos project (Composition and chemistry of the atmosphere in Antarctica)the Beldiva project (Exploration of microbial diversity in Antarctica)
the Bellissima project (Ice sheet-shelf ice measurements in Antarctica)
the Delaqua project (Sor Rondane mountains deglaciation history)
the Hydrant project (Antarctica hydrological cycle)
the meteorite research project