Is climate change affecting rates of dune migration in Antarctica?

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 2011 Is climate change affecting rates of dune migration in Antarctica? Charlie S. Bristow; Charlie S. Bristow * 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, UK *E-mail: c.bristow@ucl.ac.uk. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Paul Augustinus; Paul Augustinus 2School of Environment, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ed J. Rhodes; Ed J. Rhodes 3Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of California–Los Angeles, 595 Charles Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095-1567, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Irene C. Wallis; Irene C. Wallis 2School of Environment, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Harry M. Jol Harry M. Jol 4Department of Geography and Anthropology, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, 105 Garfield Avenue, Eau Claire, Wisconsin54702-4004, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Charlie S. Bristow * 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, UK Paul Augustinus 2School of Environment, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand Ed J. Rhodes 3Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of California–Los Angeles, 595 Charles Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095-1567, USA Irene C. Wallis 2School of Environment, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand Harry M. Jol 4Department of Geography and Anthropology, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, 105 Garfield Avenue, Eau Claire, Wisconsin54702-4004, USA *E-mail: c.bristow@ucl.ac.uk. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 01 Mar 2011 Revision Received: 05 Apr 2011 Accepted: 07 Apr 2011 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2011 Geological Society of America Geology (2011) 39 (9): 831–834. https://doi.org/10.1130/G32212.1 Article history Received: 01 Mar 2011 Revision Received: 05 Apr 2011 Accepted: 07 Apr 2011 First Online: 09 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 Charlie S. Bristow, Paul Augustinus, Ed J. Rhodes, Irene C. Wallis, Harry M. Jol; Is climate change affecting rates of dune migration in Antarctica?. Geology 2011;; 39 (9): 831–834. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G32212.1 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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent on Earth, and contains sand dunes, like deserts elsewhere. The structure and age of the cold climate dunes found in the Victoria Valley, Antarctica, are described in the light of changing climate in the Ross Sea region of Antarctica during the late Holocene. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) was used to image sand dune stratigraphy, and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) was used to determine when the sands were deposited. The timing of sand dune accretion identified from the GPR stratigraphy ranges from the present day to ca. 1.3 kyr B.P. The OSL ages were used to calculate end-point migration rates of 0.05–1.5 m/yr, lower than migration rates from photogrammetry and field surveys undertaken over the past 50 yr. The earliest recorded dune development, ca. 1.3 kyr B.P., was probably controlled by intensification of circumpolar westerlies at that time as well as by drier conditions and lower temperatures that promoted dune stabilization. The dune reactivation ca. 300 yr ago coincides with cooling ca. A.D. 1700–1850, and strengthening of southern circumpolar westerlies. The increase in rate of dune migration after this period and especially the past 200 yr may coincide with the modern rise in CO2 and the warmest temperatures in Antarctica during the past 800 kyr. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.