Early Deglaciation of the Labrador Shelf

• Published in: Science
• Main Authors: Vilks, Gustavs, Mudie, Peta J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 1978
• Subjects: Subarctic; Tundra
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.202.4373.1181; https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.202.4373.1181

Two marine sediment cores from a basin on the southeastern Labrador Shelf penetrate a mud sequence extending back to 21,000 carbon-14 years before the present (B.P.). The benthic foraminifera are dominated by subartic nearshore species indicative of ice-free summer waters. The pollen record indicates the presence of a sedge-shrub tundra in eastern Labrador as early as 21,000 years B.P. Both sources of evidence suggest less extensive continental ice than has previously been reported for this subarctic region.