An early Holocene Greenland whale from Melville Bugt, Greenland

Radiocarbon age determination of a Greenland whale ( Balaena mysticetus ) vertebra from Melville Bugt in northwestern Greenland yields an age of 9259–8989 cal yr BP. The margin of the Greenland Ice Sheet in Melville Bugt was situated behind its AD 1950–2000 position in the early Holocene, at a simil...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Quaternary Research
Main Author: Bennike, Ole
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2008
Subjects:
General Earth and Planetary Sciences
Earth-Surface Processes
Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
Balaena mysticetus
Greenland
Ice Sheet
Melville bugt
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yqres.2007.10.004
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https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0033589400014307
Description
Summary:Radiocarbon age determination of a Greenland whale ( Balaena mysticetus ) vertebra from Melville Bugt in northwestern Greenland yields an age of 9259–8989 cal yr BP. The margin of the Greenland Ice Sheet in Melville Bugt was situated behind its AD 1950–2000 position in the early Holocene, at a similar position to that being reached following rapid retreat in recent years. Such an early deglaciation of areas close to the Greenland Ice Sheet is unusual. This probably reflects the unique glaciological setting resulting from the narrow fringe of ice-free islands and peninsulas and offshore waters with deep areas that characterize this part of Greenland. The timing of Greenland Ice Sheet retreat to its present margin varies significantly around Greenland.

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