Mercer Lake (Antarctica)
| Mercer Subglacial Lake | |
|---|---|
| PPT-16 | |
| Location | West Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 84°39′40″S 149°40′37″W / 84.661°S 149.677°W |
| Type | Subglacial lake |
| Ocean/sea sources | Ross Sea |
| Max. length | 9 km (5.6 mi) |
| Surface area | 160 km2 (62 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 10–15 metres (33–49 ft) |
| Residence time | ~10 years |
Mercer Subglacial Lake is a subglacial lake in Antarctica covered by a sheet of ice 1,067 m (3,501 ft) thick; the water below is hydraulically active, with water replacement times on the order of a decade from the Ross Sea. Studies suggest that Mercer Subglacial Lake as well as other subglacial lakes appear to be linked, with drainage events in one reservoir causing filling and follow-on drainage in adjacent lakes.