Wright Valley

The helicopter drops us off in the Wright Valley ....

to open gaging on the Onyx RIVER!

The Onyx is the only official USGS RIVER in Antarctica (it has been said that the Kiwis RAFTED on this river!)

We arrived before the water is flowing in time to survey the location:

(Seth surveying)

And exchange the N2 tank and retrieve last year's data.

Here is what we can expect to come.......

"How does Wright Valley differ from Taylor Valley?"

The Wright Valley is different from Taylor Valley in the lack of snow, warm lake temperatures, unusual rock features, desiccated seal carcasses, and an almost complete lack of plant life.

Large differences in salinity and ionic composition of the lakes are related,in part, to how the lakes have responded to climatic changes through the Holocene. Chemical variations among streams are due, in part, to their geomorphological differences, the amount of water–rock interactions within their hyporheic zones, and the amount and composition of dust and soil blown onto the glacier surfaces.

Do you notice the differences in this picture?

While the streams in Taylor Valley drain to Lake Fyrxell; Onyx River drains to Lake Vanda in the Wright Valley.

Next stop, set of gages on Lake Bonney......