Formation of subaerial taliks in Larsemann hills, princess Elizabeth land, East Antarctica

Abstract

This study presents a mathematical model of heat and mass transfer for modelling the formation and evolution of taliks in the upper subsurface of the Larsemann Hills in East Antarctica. Four simulation scenarios were considered. The first one showed that thawed areas cannot form under snowfields. The second and third scenarios demonstrated the taliks did not form if the snow melted immediately after set the positive air temperatures and covered the surface 20 days before the set of negative air temperatures or immediately after that. According to the last scenario, talik forms when snow cover persists even with positive air temperature, and snow falls before the air temperature becomes negative. Modelling demonstrates that taliks in the Larsemann Hills exist, but they are mostly in an unstable state.