Interdisciplinary studies of water bodies in the Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica in 2019-2025: methods and results

The article presents a description of a complex of interdisciplinary studies of water bodies in the Larsemann Hills (East Antarctica) conducted from 2019 to 2025, along with the preliminary results of these investigations. The publication focuses on methods for studying and monitoring the hydrological and morphometric characteristics of water bodies. The integrated application of hydrological, geophysical, and geodetic methods has expanded the possibilities for investigating the oasis water bodies. During the study, the morphometric characteristics of 79 lakes on the Broknes and Stornes peninsulas were updated: the boundaries of the water bodies were clarified, and new data on their depths were obtained. Six previously unknown water bodies were identified and studied within the oasis using a field ground-penetrating radar survey method developed by the authors, in combination with standard non-core ice drilling and manual measurements of water depth. The application of these methods is demonstrated using Lake Antares as an example, where the ice thickness ranges from 1.5 to 19 m, and the water depth reaches up to 10.2 m. Comprehensive data on the current hydrological regime of the water bodies were obtained. Examples of these data are presented for Progress Lake, including changes in water-surface elevation from 2019 to 2025, with outbursts of 0.5 m in 2020 and 1.8 m in 2025; changes in ice thickness during the winter of 2023, with a maximum thickness of 1.95 m; the thermal regime during the 2024/2025 season and winter of 2023; total mineralization values during the 2024/2025 season, ranging from 75 to 80 ppm; and pH values ranging from 6.3 to 7.9 along vertical profiles. The risk of lake outbursts is assessed, and the experience gained in identifying and monitoring such risks is discussed. The obtained data significantly enhance our understanding of the hydrological system of the Larsemann Hills and provide a foundation for further research in the region. The interdisciplinary research framework developed and tested in the Larsemann Oasis enables the effective identification, investigation, and monitoring of various types of water bodies and can be applied in future studies of the region.