A continent-wide detailed geological map dataset of Antarctica
Simon C Cox1, Belinda Smith Lyttle2, Samuel Elkind3
1GNS Science, Private Bag 1930, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand. s.cox@gns.cri.nz.
Abstract:
A dataset to describe exposed bedrock and surficial geology of Antarctica has been constructed by the GeoMAP Action Group of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and GNS Science. Our group captured existing geological map data into a geographic information system (GIS), refined its spatial reliability, harmonised classification, and improved representation of glacial sequences and geomorphology, thereby creating a comprehensive and coherent representation of Antarctic geology. A total of 99,080 polygons were unified for depicting geology at 1:250,000 scale, but locally there are some areas with higher spatial resolution. Geological unit definition is based on a mixed chronostratigraphic- and lithostratigraphic-based classification. Description of rock and moraine polygons employs the international Geoscience Markup Language (GeoSciML) data protocols to provide attribute-rich and queryable information, including bibliographic links to 589 source maps and scientific literature. GeoMAP is the first detailed geological map dataset covering all of Antarctica. It depicts 'known geology' of rock exposures rather than 'interpreted' sub-ice features and is suitable for continent-wide perspectives and cross-discipline interrogation.
Related Concept Videos
Plotting of Topographic Maps
Selected Data About Geographic Locations
Methods of Obtaining Topography
Coordinates and Map Projections
Topographic Surveying and Contours
GIS Software, Hardware, and Sources of GIS Data


