Lake Fryxell

Lake Fryxell is a frozen lake 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) long, between Canada Glacier and Commonwealth Glaciers at the lower end of Taylor Valley in Victoria Land, Antarctica. It was mapped in the early 1900s and named during Operation Deep Freeze in the 1950s. There are several forms of algae living in the waters[1] and a weather station located at the lake.[2]

Lake Fryxell
Lake Fryxell
Location	Taylor Valley, Victoria Land, Antarctica
Coordinates	77°37′S 163°11′E
Lake type	Endorheic
Primary inflows	Crescent Stream, Harnish Creek
Primary outflows	none
Catchment area	230 km^2 (89 sq mi)
Basin countries	(Antarctica)
Max. length	5.8 km (3.6 mi)
Max. width	2.1 km (1.3 mi)
Surface area	7.8 km^2 (3.0 sq mi)
Average depth	3.2 m (10 ft)
Max. depth	20 m (66 ft)
Water volume	25.2×10^6 m^3 (890×10^6 cu ft)
Surface elevation	18 m (59 ft)
Islands	moraine islands
Settlements	Lake Fryxell Camp, Lake Fryxell Hut

Geography

Lake Fryxell is 20 metres (66 ft) deep, making it so the deepest portion of the lake is below sea level. The lake is dammed by Canada Glacier, making it so that it has no natural outflow. It is covered with about 4.5 metres (15 ft) of ice, but during the summer months, the ice can clear along the shoreline. There are a few small islands as well as several shallow areas.[1][3]

The average annual ablation is between 30 centimetres (12 in) and 40 centimetres (16 in), which is significantly lower when compared to other nearby frozen water bodies, such as the waters adjacent to Ross Island.[4]

Watershed

The watershed contains thirteen streams flowing into the lake, forming a watershed that has an area roughly 230 km² (89 sq mi) in size. Where a few of the streams enter the lake there are well-developed deltas.[1] The streams flow for about 4–12 weeks out of the year. Nearly half of the water flowing into the lake comes from Canada, Lost Seal and Von Guerard streams.[5]

Climate

Lake Fryxell is located within the McMurdo Dry Valleys, which experience an exceptionally dry climate partially due to katabatic winds descending from the nearby mountains. These winds can exceed 320 km/h (200 mph) under certain conditions and can raise the temperature, melting snow and evaporating water.[6][7] Average precipitation in the area surrounding the valley is equivalent to about 3 cm (1.2 in) of rain a year and a mean annual temperature of −20 °C (−4 °F) with summer temperatures getting above freezing.[5]

Climate data for Lake Fryxell, Antarctica, 1961–1990 normal
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Daily mean °F (°C)	27.0 (−2.8)	16.2 (−8.8)	0.9 (−17.3)	−5.6 (−20.9)	−9.9 (−23.3)	−9.2 (−22.9)	−14.4 (−25.8)	−17.3 (−27.4)	−14.3 (−25.7)	−2.9 (−19.4)	14.5 (−9.7)	25.7 (−3.5)	0.9 (−17.3)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1mm)	2	4	3	4	5	5	4	4	3	3	2	2	41
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[8]

Lake Fryxell Camp

Lake Fryxell Camp
Camp
One of the buildings located at the nearby camp.
Lake Fryxell Camp Location of Lake Fryxell Camp in Antarctica
Coordinates: 77°36′21″S 163°07′32″E
Country	United States
Location in Antarctica	Lake Fryxell Taylor Valley Antarctica
Established	1984
Type	Seasonal
Status	Operational

Mapped by the British Antarctic Expedition under Robert Falcon Scott, 1910–13, the lake was visited by Professor T.L. Péwé during Operation Deep Freeze, 1957–58, who named it for Dr. Fritiof M. Fryxell, glacial geologist of Augustana College, Illinois.

Lake Fryxell is a focus of scientific research and contains a semi-permanent camp containing four labs and two other buildings. Electricity is generated at the camp using solar panels and a wind turbine. The four labs are used for experimenting with radioactive materials, electronics, chemicals and other materials. When staying at the camp, researchers sleep in tents, some of which are the same style as those used in some Antarctic expeditions in the early 20th century. There is internet and phone access at the camp.[9]

Research activities largely deal with the lake itself and can include scientists diving into the water.[10] The camp has existed since at least 1984.[11]

Ecology

There are multiple forms of algae within the lake, including a sizable population of sulfate-reducing bacteria. Some samples of these bacteria live in very specific areas, such as specific water depths or locations causing them to experience differing physiochemical conditions.[12]

There is a lack of oxygen within Lake Fryxell, which is unique when compared to other lakes in the region because the anoxic region extends up to 9 metres (30 ft) below the lake surface.[13] This creates an environment similar to the planet about 2.4 billion years ago. Within anoxic areas, scientists have found bacterial mats that create small pockets saturated with oxygen.[10]

See also

• Andrews Creek
• Coral Ridge
• List of Antarctic field camps

References

1. "Waterbody Summary: Antarctic Freshwater Diatoms". Retrieved 17 November 2017.
2. "LAKE FRYXELL METEOROLOGICAL INSTURMENTS". Retrieved 17 November 2017.
3. Henderson, R. A. (1966). "An Ablation Rate for Lake Fryxell, Victoria Land, Antarctica". Journal of Glaciology. 6 (43): 129–133. doi:10.1017/S0022143000019110.
4. Henderson, R. A.; Prebble, W. M.; Hoare, R. A.; Popplewell, K. B.; House, D. A.; Wilson, A. T. (1966). "An Ablation Rate for Lake Fryxell, Victoria Land, Antarctica". Journal of Glaciology. 6 (43): 129–133. doi:10.3189/S0022143000019110.
5. Herbei, Radu; Rytel, Alexander L.; Lyons, W. Berry; McKnight, Diane M.; Jaros, Christopher; Gooseff, Michael N.; Priscu, John C. (2016). "Hydrological Controls on Ecosystem Dynamics in Lake Fryxell, Antarctica". PLOS One. 11 (7): e0159038. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159038. PMC 4956314. PMID 27441705.
6. Bockheim, J. G. (2002). "Landform and Soil Development in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica: A Regional Synthesis". Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research. 34 (3): 308–317. doi:10.2307/1552489. JSTOR 1552489.
7. Lloyd, John; Mitchinson, John (2006). The Book of General Ignorance. Faber & Faber.
8. "Weather statistics for Fryxell, Lake (Antarctica)". Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
9. "6 December 2009 A quick tour of Lake Fryxell Camp". 2009-12-06. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
10. "Oxygen Oasis Discovered in Antarctic Lake". Retrieved 17 November 2017.
11. "Lake Fryxell Camp". Retrieved 17 November 2017.
12. Karr, EA; Sattley, WM; Rice, MR; Jung, DO; Madigan, MT; Achenbach, LA (2005). "Diversity and distribution of sulfate-reducing bacteria in permanently frozen Lake Fryxell, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica". Appl Environ Microbiol. 71 (10): 6353–9. doi:10.1128/AEM.71.10.6353-6359.2005. PMC 1265979. PMID 16204557.
13. Lawrence, M. J. F. (1985). "Water column and sediment characteristics of Lake Fryxell, Taylor Valley, Antarctica". New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 28 (3): 543–552. doi:10.1080/00288306.1985.10421206.

External links

• U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Fryxell