Late Wisconsin Reconstruction for the Ross Sea Region, Antarctica

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Author: Drewry, David J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1979
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Ross Sea; McMurdo Sound; Ross Ice Shelf; Antarc*; Antarctica; Ice Shelf; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000014763; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000014763

Abstract If sea-level depression in the Ross Sea embayment were: (1) < 120–130 m, or (2) > 120–130 m but sustained for < 10 4 a, it is unlikely that the Ross Ice Shelf would have become fully grounded over the whole continental shelf during Wisconsin times. Sediments flooring the Ross Sea and recent estimates of sea-level lowering and post-glacial emergence yield little support for grounded ice but do provide some evidence for expanded ice-shelf conditions. A reconstruction is presented based on this premise. The model is compatible with glacial geologic results, especially those in the McMurdo Sound area.