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Report on the Victoria University of Wellington Antarctic Expedition 1963-64: VUWAE 8

Interpretation of Results

Interpretation of Results.

This work is far from complete, but an outline is given below of the information which has been obtained.

A considerable amount of interesting palcoclinatic information can be obtained from the salt concentration gradients of the various [unclear: lakes] studied, if the salt gradients are considered to be formed by diffusion of salt upwards from the bottoms of the lakes into a layer of almost pure water. For example it has been found that the large Eastern hole of Lake Bonney has almost doubled its depth in the last 100 years where a the small western lobe has remained at a practically constant height for at least 5,000 years. this means that a climatic change must have occurred in the area about 100 years ago. This feet is supported by the 100 years ago. Similar information can be obtained from the other lakes but the calculations have not yet been made.

The total age of the lakes can also be established approximately by considering the amount of salt being brought in by inflow [unclear: waters] and balancing this figure against the total amount of salts in the lakes. This information coupled with the above gives a considerable amount of poleogeographic information about the dry valley area.