Glaciomarine Sediments and Ice-Rafted Debris

Abstract

During the full-glacial periods of the Quaternary, ice sheets expanded from continental interiors across continental shelves and delivered large volumes of sediment, meltwater, and icebergs to the marine environment. Glaciomarine sediments preserve an archive of past changes in ice-sheet volume, oceanography, and climate. Our understanding of Quaternary glaciomarine sediments comes from the sedimentological study of emergent glaciomarine sequences, marine geophysical and geological investigations of continental shelves and slopes, especially in high-latitude regions, and paleoceanographic investigations of deep-sea sediments. Glaciomarine sediments are texturally and genetically heterogeneous, reflecting the dynamic nature of this depositional setting where the interaction of glaciers and ocean results in a diverse range of sedimentary processes and products. The glaciomarine environment provides a direct link between the cryosphere and the deep ocean, which, when coupled with the high preservation potential of glaciomarine sediments, means that they are a focus of research by both the glacial and paleoceanographic communities.