P - R
type: Concept

PANDA
type: Concept
in scheme: projects
definition: Proposal URL: http://classic.ipy.org/development/eoi/proposal-details.php?id=313 The Dome A region is the highest plateau of the Antarctic ice sheet, and could be the coldest place on the Earths surface. The transect from Prydz Bay-Amery Ice Shelf-Lambert Glacier Basin-Dome A is an interconnected ocean, ice-shelf and ice sheet system, which plays a very important role in east Antarctica mass balance, sea level and climate change. Dome A is a little known region of the Antarctic and, as it is the highest part of Antarctic ice sheet, it is an ideal place for observing the earths environmental background and making new scientific findings in a range of disciplines The ice thickness at the summit of Dome A was measured as over 3000 m by the 21st Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE-21) in the austral summer of 2004/2005. Snow accumulation occurs mostly by diamond dust sublimation directly from the troposphere and the oldest ice in Antarctica may be found there. It is hence a potential site to reconstruct a 1.2M year recordof the past climate and environment. With the extremely cold, dry and stable air found at the summit of Dome A, the area provides the best site on the Earths surface for the conduct of a wide range of astronomical observations, from optical to millimetre wavelengths. Beneath the ice at Dome A and near the centre of the Antarctic Continent lie the unexplored Gamburtsev sub-glacial mountains. Study of these may contribute greatly to theoretical earth science and to understanding the geological history of Antarctica. Observations along the Zhongshan-Dome A are important for studying ice dynamic processes and mass balance, recent climate history and SolarWind/Magnetosphere/Ionosphere coupling. The ocean circulation in Prydz Bay is one of the major gyres around the Antarctic and it both affects and is affected by interaction beneath the Amery Ice Shelf. Improved oceanographic studies are required of the Prydz Bay circulation, its role in …