Ancient pre-glacial erosion surfaces preserved beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet
We present ice-penetrating radar evidence for ancient (pre-glacial) and extensive erosion surfaces preserved beneath the upstream Institute and Möller ice streams, West Antarctica. Radar data reveal a smooth, laterally continuous, gently sloping topographic block, comprising two surfaces separated b...
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ftcopernicus:oai:publications.copernicus.org:esurf25920 2023-05-15T13:54:27+02:00 Ancient pre-glacial erosion surfaces preserved beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Rose, K. C. Ross, N. Jordan, T. A. Bingham, R. G. Corr, H. F. J. Ferraccioli, F. Le Brocq, A. M. Rippin, D. M. Siegert, M. J. 2018-09-27 application/pdf https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-3-139-2015 https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/3/139/2015/ eng eng doi:10.5194/esurf-3-139-2015 https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/3/139/2015/ eISSN: 2196-632X Text 2018 ftcopernicus https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-3-139-2015 2020-07-20T16:24:46Z We present ice-penetrating radar evidence for ancient (pre-glacial) and extensive erosion surfaces preserved beneath the upstream Institute and Möller ice streams, West Antarctica. Radar data reveal a smooth, laterally continuous, gently sloping topographic block, comprising two surfaces separated by a distinct break in slope. The erosion surfaces are preserved in this location due to the collective action of the Pirrit and Martin–Nash hills on ice sheet flow, resulting in a region of slow flowing, cold-based ice downstream of these major topographic barriers. Our analysis reveals that smooth, flat subglacial topography does not always correspond to regions of either present or former fast ice flow, as has previously been assumed. We discuss the potential origins of the erosion surfaces. Erosion rates across the surfaces are currently low, precluding formation via present-day glacial erosion. We suggest that fluvial or marine processes are most likely to have resulted in the formation of these surfaces, but we acknowledge that distinguishing between these processes with certainty requires further data. Text Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Ice Sheet West Antarctica Copernicus Publications: E-Journals Antarctic Nash ENVELOPE(-62.350,-62.350,-74.233,-74.233) Nash Hills ENVELOPE(-89.383,-89.383,-81.883,-81.883) West Antarctic Ice Sheet West Antarctica Earth Surface Dynamics 3 1 139 152 |
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Open Polar |
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Copernicus Publications: E-Journals |
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ftcopernicus |
language |
English |
description |
We present ice-penetrating radar evidence for ancient (pre-glacial) and extensive erosion surfaces preserved beneath the upstream Institute and Möller ice streams, West Antarctica. Radar data reveal a smooth, laterally continuous, gently sloping topographic block, comprising two surfaces separated by a distinct break in slope. The erosion surfaces are preserved in this location due to the collective action of the Pirrit and Martin–Nash hills on ice sheet flow, resulting in a region of slow flowing, cold-based ice downstream of these major topographic barriers. Our analysis reveals that smooth, flat subglacial topography does not always correspond to regions of either present or former fast ice flow, as has previously been assumed. We discuss the potential origins of the erosion surfaces. Erosion rates across the surfaces are currently low, precluding formation via present-day glacial erosion. We suggest that fluvial or marine processes are most likely to have resulted in the formation of these surfaces, but we acknowledge that distinguishing between these processes with certainty requires further data. |
format |
Text |
author |
Rose, K. C. Ross, N. Jordan, T. A. Bingham, R. G. Corr, H. F. J. Ferraccioli, F. Le Brocq, A. M. Rippin, D. M. Siegert, M. J. |
spellingShingle |
Rose, K. C. Ross, N. Jordan, T. A. Bingham, R. G. Corr, H. F. J. Ferraccioli, F. Le Brocq, A. M. Rippin, D. M. Siegert, M. J. Ancient pre-glacial erosion surfaces preserved beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet |
author_facet |
Rose, K. C. Ross, N. Jordan, T. A. Bingham, R. G. Corr, H. F. J. Ferraccioli, F. Le Brocq, A. M. Rippin, D. M. Siegert, M. J. |
author_sort |
Rose, K. C. |
title |
Ancient pre-glacial erosion surfaces preserved beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet |
title_short |
Ancient pre-glacial erosion surfaces preserved beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet |
title_full |
Ancient pre-glacial erosion surfaces preserved beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet |
title_fullStr |
Ancient pre-glacial erosion surfaces preserved beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet |
title_full_unstemmed |
Ancient pre-glacial erosion surfaces preserved beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet |
title_sort |
ancient pre-glacial erosion surfaces preserved beneath the west antarctic ice sheet |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-3-139-2015 https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/3/139/2015/ |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-62.350,-62.350,-74.233,-74.233) ENVELOPE(-89.383,-89.383,-81.883,-81.883) |
geographic |
Antarctic Nash Nash Hills West Antarctic Ice Sheet West Antarctica |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Nash Nash Hills West Antarctic Ice Sheet West Antarctica |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Ice Sheet West Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Ice Sheet West Antarctica |
op_source |
eISSN: 2196-632X |
op_relation |
doi:10.5194/esurf-3-139-2015 https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/3/139/2015/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-3-139-2015 |
container_title |
Earth Surface Dynamics |
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3 |
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1 |
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139 |
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152 |
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1766260356288610304 |