Ice-free geomorphometry of Enderby Land, East Antarctica: 1. Mountainous areas

Geomorphometric modeling and mapping of ice-free Antarctic areas can be applied for obtaining new quantitative knowledge about the topography of these unique landscapes and for the further use of morphometric information in Antarctic research. Within the framework of a project of creating a physical geographical thematic scientific reference geomorphometric atlas of ice-free areas of Antarctica, we performed geomorphometric modeling and mapping of key, partly ice-free mountainous areas of Enderby Land, East Antarctica. These include, from south to north, the Nye Mountains, Raggatt Mountains, Scott Mountains, Krzhizhanovsky Mountains, Tula Mountains, and a central part of the Napier Mountains. As input data, we used six fragments of the Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA). For the partly ice-free mountainous areas and adjacent ice sheet and glaciers, we derived models and maps of eleven, most scientifically important morphometric variables (i.e., slope, aspect, horizontal curvature, vertical curvature, minimal curvature, maximal curvature, catchment area, topographic wetness index, stream power index, total insolation, and wind exposition index). In total, we derived 180 maps in scales from 1:50,000 to 1:125,000. The obtained models and maps describe the partly ice-free mountainous topography of Enderby Land in a rigorous, quantitative, and reproducible manner. New morphometric data can be useful for further geological, geomorphological, glaciological, ecological, and hydrological studies of this region.