Bedrock features and ice flow near the EPICA ice core site (Dome C, Antarctica)

The precise bedrock topography near the EPICA ice core site, at Dome C in A ntarctica exhibits impressive bedrock mountains, bowls and a clear network of elongated valleys. Some of these features an probably tectonic and are l ikely to be buried pre-ice-sheet landfonns. The elongated bedrock valleys a re clearly detectable in the surface topography suggesting a large-scale ne twork. The analysis of the relationship between basal and surface elongated structures indicates a damping factor decreasing from 120 near the dome to 80 at few tens of kilometer. There is evidence of presence of subglacial w ater and of erosed bed, that call play a role of the ice flow. A complete f low modeling, taking into account longitudinal stresses, should be performe d around EPICA site in order to improve dating of the ice.