Abstract
ABSTRACT This study presents a 1:25,000 geomorphological map of the northern sector of Ulu Peninsula, James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula. The map covers an area of c. 250 km2, and documents the landforms and surficial sediments of one of the largest ice-free areas in Antarctica, based on remote sensing and field-based mapping. The large-scale landscape features are determined by the underlying Cretaceous sedimentary and Neogene volcanic geology, which has been sculpted by overlying ice masses during glacial periods. Paraglacial and periglacial features are superimposed upon remnant glacial features, reflecting the post-glacial evolution of the landscape. The study area can be broadly separated into three geomorphological sectors, according to the dominant contemporary Earth-surface processes; specifically, a glacierised southern sector, a paraglacial-dominated eastern sector, and a periglacial-dominated central/northern sector. This map provides a basis for further interdisciplinary research, and insight into the potential future landscape evolution of other parts of the Antarctic Peninsula as the climate warms.
Highlights
Prior to the beginning of the twenty-first century, the Antarctic Peninsula was one of the most rapidly warming parts of the World (Carrivick et al, 2012; Oliva et al, 2017; Turner et al, 2005, 2016; Vaughan et al, 2003), with the north-eastern Antarctic Peninsula being susceptible to changes in atmospheric and ocean temperatures (Pritchard et al, 2012)
This study presents a 1:25,000 geomorphological map of the northern sector of Ulu Peninsula, James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula
By providing a comprehensive overview of the geomorphological context of the Ulu Peninsula and its landscape evolution, this study provides a foundation for future multidisciplinary investigations
Summary
Prior to the beginning of the twenty-first century, the Antarctic Peninsula was one of the most rapidly warming parts of the World (Carrivick et al, 2012; Oliva et al, 2017; Turner et al, 2005, 2016; Vaughan et al, 2003), with the north-eastern Antarctic Peninsula being susceptible to changes in atmospheric and ocean temperatures (Pritchard et al, 2012) These changes resulted in the acceleration, thinning, and recession of glaciers in the area, as well as the collapse of several large ice shelves (Cook et al, 2005; Cook & Vaughan, 2010; Engel et al, 2012; Glasser et al, 2009; Hodgson, 2011; Pritchard et al, 2012; Seehaus et al, 2018). The geomorphological record may provide insights into the potential landscape evolution of other Antarctic Peninsula regions in response to future climate change
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