FORMATION AND AGE OF RAISED MARINE BEACHES, NORTHERN

• Main Author: Nathan Gardner
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2002
• Subjects: Antarctic; Ross Sea; Scott Coast; The Beaches; West Antarctic Ice Sheet; Antarc*; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.508.277; http://www.library.umaine.edu/theses/pdf/GardnerN2002.pdf

The stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) is a key problem because of its potential effect on global sea level and climate. Some geologic evidence suggests that the ice sheet has collapsed in the past, which, if correct, implies that future disintegration is possible. Isolation of the mechanism(s) that have affected WAIS behavior since the last glacial maximum (LGM) may yield information about factors that control it today. Previous studies have indicated thatrecession of the WAIS from the LGM position occurred in the middle to late Holocene. However, the data come fiom points too far south to assess accurately the timing and cause of the early phase of deglaciation. Reconstruction of ice retreat in the Ross Sea Embayment since the LGM relies heavily on the development of relative sea-level curves from raised beaches. In turn, the accuracy of these curves depends on the manner in which the beaches fornl and in which organic material is incorporated. The present study has two main objectives. The first is to determine the processes that formed beaches now uplifted along the northern Scott Coast. The second is to obtain radiocarbon samples, which will determine the ages of the raised beaches, and aid in relative sea-level interpretations.