Glacial history of the Greenland Ice Sheet and a local ice cap in Qaanaaq, northwest Greenland
ABSTRACT In this study, we present new information on the glacial history of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) and a local ice cap in Qaanaaq, northwest Greenland. We use geomorphological mapping, 10 Be exposure dating of boulders, analysis of lake cores, and 14 C dating of reworked marine molluscs and...
| Published in: | Journal of Quaternary Science |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
| Other Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2019
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3139 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fjqs.3139 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jqs.3139 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/jqs.3139 |
| Summary: | ABSTRACT In this study, we present new information on the glacial history of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) and a local ice cap in Qaanaaq, northwest Greenland. We use geomorphological mapping, 10 Be exposure dating of boulders, analysis of lake cores, and 14 C dating of reworked marine molluscs and subfossil plants to constrain the glacial history. Our 14 C ages of reworked marine molluscs reveal that the ice extent in the area was at or behind its present‐day position from 42.2 ± 0.4 to 30.6 ± 0.3k cal a BP after which the GrIS expanded to its maximum position during the Last Glacial Maximum. We find evidence of early ice retreat in the deep fjord (Inglefield Bredning) at 11.9 ± 0.6 ka whereas the Taserssuit Valley was deglaciated ~4 ka later at 7.8 ± 0.1k cal a BP. A proglacial lake record suggests that the local ice cap survived the Holocene Thermal Maximum but moss kill‐dates reveal that it was smaller than present for a period of time before 3.3 ± 0.1k until 0.9 ± 0.1k cal a BP, following which the ice in the area expanded towards its Little Ice Age extent. Copyright © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
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