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Ice caves adjacent to Lower Erebus Hut, formed by areas of volcanically warmed ground that melt cavities beneath the snow cover. The atmosphere inside the caves is 0°C and 100% humidity, which results in large ice crystals growing from the vapor. Dripping water forms ice stalagmites, stalactites, curtains, and other features more commonly associated with limestone caves. Steam rising from cave entrances freezes where it meets the -30°C outside air forming ice chimneys up to 20m high. Inside the caves, glassy surfaces of lava flows are preserved in contrast to those outside the caves which are subjected to acidic volcanic gasses and mechanical erosion from blowing snow. The variation in the color and brightness of the cave ceiling is due to the varying thickness of the ice. In the photo is geologist Dr. Bill McIntosh and Lars Abromeit.

Filename
STNMTZ_20051203_RAW16369.tif
Copyright
© 2006 George Steinmetz
Image Size
6144x4089 / 71.9MB
www.georgesteinmetz.com
Contained in galleries
Antarctica
Ice caves adjacent to Lower Erebus Hut, formed by areas of volcanically warmed ground that melt cavities beneath the snow cover. The atmosphere inside the caves is 0°C and 100% humidity, which results in large ice crystals growing from the vapor. Dripping water forms ice stalagmites, stalactites, curtains, and other features more commonly associated with limestone caves. Steam rising from cave entrances freezes where it meets the -30°C outside air forming ice chimneys up to 20m high. Inside the caves, glassy surfaces of lava flows are preserved in contrast to those outside the caves which are subjected to acidic volcanic gasses and mechanical erosion from blowing snow. The variation in the color and brightness of the cave ceiling is due to the varying thickness of the ice. In the photo is geologist Dr. Bill McIntosh and Lars Abromeit.

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