Landscape Evolution in Transantarctic Mountains

This sets the limits and constraints to much of other geological research and is central in deciphering the preserved landforms attesting of past environments. Over the years the geomorphologists have gained a good understanding of the rates of landscape evolution in most of the terrestrial environments.

However, we still know very little of landscape evolution in the coldest deserts on Earth which are found in the Transantarctic Mountains. This proposed project would take place in two unique field areas in the coldest and driest part of the Transantarctic Mountains (Ong Valley at Nimrod Glacier and Moraine Canyon at Amundsen Glacier) where the current lack of running water and biological activity is thought to preserve the landscape essentially unchanged for millions of years.