GLACIATIONS | Late Quaternary of Antarctica

Abstract

Glaciers and ice sheets have existed in Antarctica for more than 30 Myr, and it is the most stable cryospheric system on Earth. This review starts with a very brief overview of pre-Quaternary glacial history of Antarctica. The Pleistocene history of the Antarctic ice sheet is outlined, and the glacial history of Antarctica since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) discussed in a more detailed way. During LGM, ice expanded toward the middle-outer continental shelf around Antarctica. Deglaciation of the outer-mid-shelf areas took place before 10 14C kyr BP, and was largely controlled by the rising global sea level. This was followed by deglaciation of some presently ice-free inner shelf and land areas 10–8 kyr BP. Continued deglaciation occurred gradually 8–6 kyr BP. The Holocene marine limit around Antarctica dates to 7–6 kyr BP. A circum-Antarctic glacial minimum and climate optimum, best recorded in coastal Victoria Land and the Antarctic Peninsula, occurred 4.5–2.5 kyr BP. Thereafter, neoglacial readvances are recorded. Relatively limited glacial expansions in Antarctica during the past few hundred years correlate with the Little Ice Age in the Northern Hemisphere. Warming during the past 50 yr may be causing instability of some Antarctic Peninsula ice shelves.