New Marine Sediment Core Data Support Holocene Stability of the Larsen B Ice Shelf

• Main Authors: L. Padman, R. Gilbert
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ice Shelf
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.485.3618; http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1047/ea/of2007-1047ea019.pdf

Summary Multi-proxy data (sedimentologic, geochemical and micropaleontologic) from 10 kasten cores collected from within the Larsen B embayment during two research cruises, LMG0502 and NBP0603, support earlier data indicating that the March 2002 collapse of the Larsen B Ice Shelf was a unique event and that the ice shelf had been present since its formation at the end of the last glacial period. Chronologies for these cores have been developed through a combination of radiocarbon and 210Pb analyses. In general, the sediment core data illustrate the transition from grounded ice to a sub-ice shelf setting, followed by the open marine environment present today. More details regarding processes associated with ice shelf collapse are recorded as well, including rapid deposition in sites