James L. Fastook, Professor of Computer ScienceIS MWP 1A REAL AND COULD IT HAVE ORIGINATED IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE IN RESPONSE TO
Meltwater Pulse 1A (MWP 1A) is thought to have encompassed an abrupt rise in sea-level of 19- 24 m ca. 14,000 calendar years B.P. The postulated rate of sea-level rise during the event was 24- 50 mm/yr. In contrast, the average rate of change during the overall glacial termination was 13 mm/yr. Alth...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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2004
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.428.3410 http://www.library.umaine.edu/theses/pdf/BirkelSD2002.pdf |
| Summary: | Meltwater Pulse 1A (MWP 1A) is thought to have encompassed an abrupt rise in sea-level of 19- 24 m ca. 14,000 calendar years B.P. The postulated rate of sea-level rise during the event was 24- 50 mm/yr. In contrast, the average rate of change during the overall glacial termination was 13 mm/yr. Although MWP 1A is commonly accepted at face value, a compilation of all basic data points casts doubts on its validity. The Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) is commonly cited as the source of MWP 1A. Accelerated discharge of freshwater from the ice sheet could have weakened the formation of North Atlantic deep water. However, with the exception of sea-water freshening observed in cores from the Gulf of Mexico and Bermuda Rise, there is little geologic evidence to support a pulse from the LIS during the time of MWP 1A. An alternative suggestion is that MWP 1A originated in Antarctica. One possibility is that a meltwater pulse could have been derived by exploding ice shelves followed by accelerated seaward discharge from ice streams. However, Antarctica contributed atmost 18 m, but probably less than 14 m to total LGM sea-level lowering. Furthermore, West Antarctica, which contained two-thirds of the excess Antarctic ice volume at the |
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