Reduced ice extent on the western Antarctic Peninsula at 700-970 cal. yr B.P

Rapid warming and consequent ice-shelf collapse have focused attention on the glacial record of the Antarctic Peninsula. Here, we present the first record of terrestrial organic material exposed by recently retreating ice that bears on past glacier extent and climate in this sensitive region. Radioc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geology (Boulder) 2010-07, Vol.38 (7), p.635-638
Main Authors: Hall, B. L, Koffman, T, Denton, G. H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
absolute age
Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctica
Anvers Island
Bryophyta
C-14
carbon
Cenozoic
Climate
dates
deglaciation
glacial extent
glacial geology
Global warming
Holocene
Ice
ice shelves
isotopes
Musci
Plantae
Quaternary
Quaternary geology
radioactive isotopes
shells
upper Holocene
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Summary:Rapid warming and consequent ice-shelf collapse have focused attention on the glacial record of the Antarctic Peninsula. Here, we present the first record of terrestrial organic material exposed by recently retreating ice that bears on past glacier extent and climate in this sensitive region. Radiocarbon dates show that ice on Anvers Island was at or behind its present position at 700-970 cal. yr B.P., coincident with ice reduction elsewhere in the Southern Hemisphere. Moreover, the data indicate that present reduced ice extent on the western Antarctic Peninsula is not unprecedented and is similar to that experienced during at least three periods in the last 5600 yr.
ISSN:0091-7613
1943-2682
DOI:10.1130/G30932.1