Ice-stream retreat and ice-shelf history in Marguerite Trough, Antarctic Peninsula: Sedimentological and foraminiferal signatures

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 2011 Ice-stream retreat and ice-shelf history in Marguerite Trough, Antarctic Peninsula: Sedimentological and foraminiferal signatures Aoibheann A. Kilfeather; Aoibheann A. Kilfeather † 1Department of Geography, Durham University, Science Site, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK †E-mail: a.a.kilfeather@durham.ac.uk Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Colm Ó Cofaigh; Colm Ó Cofaigh 1Department of Geography, Durham University, Science Site, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jerry M. Lloyd; Jerry M. Lloyd 1Department of Geography, Durham University, Science Site, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Julian A. Dowdeswell; Julian A. Dowdeswell 2Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1ER, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Sheng Xu; Sheng Xu 3Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, East Kilbride, G75 0QF, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Steven G. Moreton Steven G. Moreton 4NERC Radiocarbon Facility (Environment), Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, Rankine Avenue, East Kilbride, Glasgow, G75 0QF, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Aoibheann A. Kilfeather † 1Department of Geography, Durham University, Science Site, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK Colm Ó Cofaigh 1Department of Geography, Durham University, Science Site, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK Jerry M. Lloyd 1Department of Geography, Durham University, Science Site, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK Julian A. Dowdeswell 2Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1ER, UK Sheng Xu 3Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, East Kilbride, G75 0QF, UK Steven G. Moreton 4NERC Radiocarbon Facility (Environment), Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, Rankine Avenue, East Kilbride, Glasgow, G75 0QF, UK †E-mail: a.a.kilfeather@durham.ac.uk Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 25 Feb 2010 Revision Received: 02 Jul 2010 Accepted: 08 Jul 2010 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 © 2011 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2011) 123 (5-6): 997–1015. https://doi.org/10.1130/B30282.1 Article history Received: 25 Feb 2010 Revision Received: 02 Jul 2010 Accepted: 08 Jul 2010 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Aoibheann A. Kilfeather, Colm Ó Cofaigh, Jerry M. Lloyd, Julian A. Dowdeswell, Sheng Xu, Steven G. Moreton; Ice-stream retreat and ice-shelf history in Marguerite Trough, Antarctic Peninsula: Sedimentological and foraminiferal signatures. GSA Bulletin 2011;; 123 (5-6): 997–1015. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B30282.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The timing, nature, and causes of grounded ice-sheet retreat following the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) in Marguerite Trough, west Antarctic Peninsula, and subsequent early Holocene ice-shelf decay, are presented in this paper. We use sedimentological, foraminiferal, geotechnical, and accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) radiocarbon data from marine cores from the mid-continental shelf, together with previously published AMS dates, to establish a sedimentological and chronological model.Initial ice-sheet retreat through the outer- and mid-shelf sectors of Marguerite Trough was under way by ca. 14 ka B.P., was rapid, and coincided with the sea-level rise of meltwater pulse 1a. An ice shelf formed during this retreat, and fine-grained, laminated muds reflecting meltwater-derived suspension settling and/or tidal pumping were deposited. During this time the ice sheet remained grounded on the inner shelf.Ice-shelf breakup and retreat of the calving front, from ca. 13.2 to 12.5 ka B.P., was slow (∼100 m a−1) across the outer- and mid-shelf, with calving bay conditions remaining for at least 3.5 ka. We interpret this ice-shelf decay to have been driven by an incursion of Weddell Sea Transitional Water onto the shelf. In contrast, grounding-line and ice-shelf retreat in the inner bay occurred from ca. 9.3 ka B.P. and was driven by Circumpolar Warm Deep Water encroaching onto the continental shelf. At this time the mid-shelf was an open-marine environment characterized by hemipelagic deposition. These findings highlight the importance of oceanographic controls in the breakup of Antarctic Peninsula ice shelves during the Holocene. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.