Onyx River: Difference between revisions
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==Monitoring== |
==Monitoring== |
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The Onyx River is one of the many sites studied by the [[United States Antarctic Program]] of the [[National Science Foundation]]. The [[Antarctica New Zealand]] program once maintained a semi-permanent camp at Lake Vanda which has since been removed. There is a small research shelter at Lake Vanda at its eastern end. Nearby is the [[Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty]] Seismic station at Bull Pass. |
The Onyx River is one of the many sites studied by the [[United States Antarctic Program]] of the [[National Science Foundation]]. Discharge data has been collected at the downstream gauge near Lake Vanda since 1969 and at the upstream gauge near the Wright Lower Glacier since 1972. <ref name = "USGS>{{cite journal|first1=Michael N.|last1=Gooseff|first2=Diane M.|last2=McKnight|first3=Peter T.|last3=Doran|first4=W. Berry|last4=Lyons|title=Trends in discharge and flow season timing of the Onyx River, Wright Valley, Antarctica since 1969|publisher=USGS|doi=10.3133/ofr20071047SRP088|date=2007|access-date=2 March 2022|url=https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/ofr20071047SRP088}}</ref> The [[Antarctica New Zealand]] program once maintained a semi-permanent camp at Lake Vanda which has since been removed. There is a small research shelter at Lake Vanda at its eastern end. Nearby is the [[Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty]] Seismic station at Bull Pass. |
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Since records have been kept, the Onyx River's flow season has shifted earlier and gotten longer.<ref name = "USGS"/> |
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[[Image:Lake Vanda map.jpg|none|thumb|600px|Map of [[Wright Valley]] with Onyx River and [[Lake Vanda]]]] |
[[Image:Lake Vanda map.jpg|none|thumb|600px|Map of [[Wright Valley]] with Onyx River and [[Lake Vanda]]]] |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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==External Links== |
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*"Antarctica’s longest river", p 16, and "What the flood revealed", pp 15–21, [http://antarcticsun.usap.gov/pastIssues/2002-2003/2003_01_26.pdf Antarctic Sun], January 26, 2003 |
*"Antarctica’s longest river", p 16, and "What the flood revealed", pp 15–21, [http://antarcticsun.usap.gov/pastIssues/2002-2003/2003_01_26.pdf Antarctic Sun], January 26, 2003 |
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*[https://aerialcollection.com/recherche/?q=Onyx+river+Antarctica Onyx river and Dry Valleys low altitude aerial videos] |
*[https://aerialcollection.com/recherche/?q=Onyx+river+Antarctica Onyx river and Dry Valleys low altitude aerial videos] |
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*[https://massivesci.com/articles/antarctica-dry-valley-melting-ozone-water-climate-change-science-friday/ The ground is softening. Something is shifting in Antarctica’s McMurdo Dry Valleys] |
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[[Category:Rivers of Antarctica]] |
[[Category:Rivers of Antarctica]] |
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Revision as of 01:38, 2 March 2022
| Onyx River | |
|---|---|
 Onyx River flowing into Lake Vanda | |
 Onyx River Map | |
| Location | |
| Country | Antarctica |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Lake Brownworth |
| • coordinates | 77°25′48″S 162°45′0″E / 77.43000°S 162.75000°E |
| Mouth | Lake Vanda |
• coordinates | 77°33′24″S 161°45′0″E / 77.55667°S 161.75000°E |
| Length | 32 km (20 mi) |
The Onyx River is an Antarctic meltwater stream which flows westward through the Wright Valley from Wright Lower Glacier and Lake Brownworth at the foot of the glacier to Lake Vanda, during the few months of the Antarctic summer. At 32 kilometres (20 mi) in length, it is the longest river in Antarctica.[1]
Geography
The Onyx River flows away from the ocean, an example of endorheic drainage, as the Wright Lower Glacier blocks the mouth of the Wright Valley. It has several tributaries, and there are multiple meteorological stations along the length of the river. Flow levels are highly variable, both during the day and between summers, with the river failing to reach the lake some years. In contrast, it can cause significant erosion in flood years, and was rafted in 1984 by New Zealand researchers. At one time, the river's discharge reached 20 cubic metres per second (700 cu ft/s).[2]
Environment
There are no fish in the Onyx River, but it supports microscopic life, and the algal blooms can be quite extensive. The environment consists mainly of cyanobacteria and other algae. A few small animals (nematodes, tardigrades, and rotifers) live in the river. Skuas are also occasionally present in the area.[3]
Monitoring
The Onyx River is one of the many sites studied by the United States Antarctic Program of the National Science Foundation. Discharge data has been collected at the downstream gauge near Lake Vanda since 1969 and at the upstream gauge near the Wright Lower Glacier since 1972. [4] The Antarctica New Zealand program once maintained a semi-permanent camp at Lake Vanda which has since been removed. There is a small research shelter at Lake Vanda at its eastern end. Nearby is the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Seismic station at Bull Pass.
Since records have been kept, the Onyx River's flow season has shifted earlier and gotten longer.[4]
See also
References
- ^ Nick Middleton. Rivers: A Very Short Introduction. (page 26) ISBN 9780199588671
- ^ [1]. The Antarctic Sun. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2015
- ^ McKnight, Diane M.; Niyogi, Dev K.; Alger, Alexander S.; Bomblies, Arne; Conovitz, Peter A.; Tate, Cathy M. (December 1, 1999). "Dry Valley Streams in Antarctica: Ecosystems Waiting for Water". BioScience. 49 (12): 985–995. doi:10.2307/1313732. JSTOR 1313732.
- ^ a b Gooseff, Michael N.; McKnight, Diane M.; Doran, Peter T.; Lyons, W. Berry (2007). "Trends in discharge and flow season timing of the Onyx River, Wright Valley, Antarctica since 1969". USGS. doi:10.3133/ofr20071047SRP088. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help)
External Links
- "Antarctica’s longest river", p 16, and "What the flood revealed", pp 15–21, Antarctic Sun, January 26, 2003
- Onyx river and Dry Valleys low altitude aerial videos
- The ground is softening. Something is shifting in Antarctica’s McMurdo Dry Valleys