Description
Von Guerard Stream, containing drainage from the Kukri Hills glaciers, is similar to Delta Stream in most characteristics. The upper portion is located in a steep gradient reach near the source glacier. The streambed has incised the glacial till, leaving steep-sided banks. The streambed is composed of large cobbles and boulders embedded with sand. From the accumulation of wind-blown snow, the streambed may be snow-covered for some time into the summer. Below the steep upper reach, the gradient becomes gentle. Most of the flow (about 75%) is directed down a primary channel on the east. The remaining flow goes to the west and drains out into a broad, flat area. During low flow periods, a large area of alluvium is saturated. Under high flow, shallow pools form. Below this flat area, the gradient steepens, and a well-defined channel can be observed on the west side. The well-defined channel, with banks as high as 2-3 m in some reaches, suggests that during some period in the past a larger proportion of the flow from the steep upper reach was directed westward and into this channel. The lower portion of the Von Guerard Stream is located below the flat region in a reach with moderate gradient and wide streambed at this site. Stream length: 4.9 km.
Environmental data
Hydrological, biological, chemical, and physical property measurements have been made for a number of McMurdo Dry Valley streams and lakes.
See: LTER Data
Diatom taxa found in
Von Guerard Stream
- Achnanthes taylorensis
- Amphora cf. oligotraphenta
- Chamaepinnularia cymatopleura
- Chamaepinnularia cymatopleura var. #3
- Chamaepinnularia deltaica
- Chamaepinnularia quaternaria
- Craticula molestiformis
- Fistulifera pelliculosa
- Hantzschia abundans
- Hantzschia amphioxys
- Hantzschia amphioxys f. muelleri
- Hantzschia elongata
- Hantzschia hyperaustralis
- Humidophila arcuata
- Humidophila arcuata var. parallela
- Humidophila australis
- Luticola austroatlantica
- Luticola bradyi
- Luticola dolia
- Luticola elegans
- Luticola gaussii
- Luticola laeta
- Luticola mcknightiae
- Luticola murrayi
- Luticola mutica
- Luticola muticopsis
- Luticola permuticopsis
- Luticola sp. #2
- Luticola sp. #3
- Luticola spainiae
- Luticola transantarctica
- Marine diatom fragments
- Mayamaea atomus
- Mayamaea atomus fo. permitis
- Mayamaea atomus var. #1
- Microcostatus naumannii
- Muelleria meridionalis
- Muelleria peraustralis
- Muelleria supra
- Navicula gregaria
- Navicula seibigiana
- Navicula shackletoni
- Nitzschia australocommutata
- Nitzschia westiorum
- Pinnularia borealis
- Psammothidium germainii
- Psammothidium papilio
- Sabbea adminensis
- Stauroneis latistauros
Von Guerard Stream, Taylor Valley.
See: Overview maps
Leading edge of flow in Von Guerard Stream. 2000. Photo: Chris Jaros.
