Magnitude of Extension across the Central Terror Rift, Antarctica: Structural Interpretations and Balanced Cross Sections
2011
Magee, William Robert
In Antarctica, where much of the continent is covered by ice, the use of remotely sensed geophysical data is a valuable tool for reconstructing geologic history. Data from the submarine continental shelf are fundamental for determining the structural deformation and geomorphological history of the Antarctic plate. The western Ross Sea contains a segment of the West Antarctic Rift System known as the Terror Rift. The rift lies entirely below sea level and stretches between the two volcanic provinces of Mount Melbourne and Mount Erebus. High-resolution seismic and bathymetry data from the western Ross Sea are used to analyze the structure, kinematics, and deformation history of the Terror Rift. Recent glacial history of the western Ross Sea has also been identified. A revised fault and associated volcanic edifice map of the Terror Rift in the western Ross Sea is provided. The eastern limit of faulting associated with the Terror Rift is redefined by this study. The first balanced cross sections and extension values have been calculated for the Terror Rift. Outcomes of this study provide definite constraint on the magnitude of extension since the onset of rifting in the late Neogene and define the mode of rifting.
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