Abstract:
A geophysical study of Lake Vanda, Wright Valley was conducted over three seasons focussing on the heat balance of the lake with geochemical and geomorphological studies running concurrently. Comparisons were made with several other freshwater and saline water bodies in the Dry Valleys including: Don Juan Pond, the Don Quixote Pond, Lake Vida, Lake Bonney, Lake Fryxell, the Onyx River and the
... drainage from the snout of the Lower Wright Glacier. Specific investigations included: 1) Observations of the change of lake level: measurements of the lake level rise and maximum daily inflow and total inflow during the summer, 2) Measurements of water temperature and electrical conductivity and lake depth: Measurements were made simultaneously and at intervals of 10cm where abrubt change of temperature with depth occurred and at intervals of 50cm to 10 meters in the constant temperature layers and depth was recorded at the same time, 3) Continuous recordings of water temperature: vertical measurements at various depths throughout the day, 4) Measurement of temperature in the bottom sediment, 5) Measurement of vertical distribution of temperature in the lake ice, 6) Measurement of the intensity of solar radiation above and under the lake ice, 7) Measurement of the amount of sublimation from the lake ice and evaporation from the water surface, 8) Measurement of thickness of lake ice and its change, 9) Observation of short period fluctuation of the lake level, 10) Measurements of dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity and hydrogen sulfide of lake water and sampling of water for other chemical analysis, 11) Sampling of dehydrated algae: age determination by 14C dating, 12) Sampling of bottom sediments, glacier ice for chemical and mechanical analysis, 13) Meteorological observations, 14) Geomorphological survey: visual observations and altimetric surveying at and near Lake Vanda was conducted to elucidate the physical environment of the lake, 15) Fossil algae, moraine and fluvio-glacial deposits were collected and analysed, and 16) Geomorphological reconnaissance and sampling of efflorescence from each water body were carried out also. 
