Airborne geophysics as a tool for geoscientific research in Antarctica: some recent examples

The polar regions play an important role in Earth's geodynamic and climatic systems. Modern airborne
geophysical surveys combine radio-echo sounding, aeromagnetic and aerogravity methods to explore the geology of
these regions. This paper reviews some recent aerogeophysical investigations undertaken by the British Antarctic
Survey to: 1) Image subglacial rifts of Jurassic age in western Dronning Maud Land, which were associated with early
Gondwana break-up; 2) Investigate crustal growth over the Antarctic Peninsula by Cretaceous arc magmatism and
terrane accretion along the paleo-Pacific margin of Gondwana; 3) Analyse geological boundary conditions for presentday
ice dynamics over Coats Land.