The deglaciation of the ice-free areas in the South Shetland Islands: Examples from Byers (livingston) and barton (King George)

• Published in: Cuaternario y Geomorfología
• Main Authors: Oliva, M., Antoniades, D., Giralt, Santiago, Granados, I., Pla-Rabes, S., Toro, M., Sanjurjo, Jorge
• Other Authors: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Asociación Española para el Estudio del Cuaternario 2016
• Subjects: Antarctica; Barton peninsula; Byers Peninsula; Deglaciation; Lake sediments; Barton; Barton Peninsula; Byers; Byers peninsula; Hielo; islas Shetland del Sur; King George Island; Livingston Island; Shetland del Sur; South Shetland Islands; Antarc*; Antártida; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/136665; https://doi.org/10.17735/cyg.v30i1-2.48665; https://doi.org/10.13039/501100001871

The process of deglaciation of the present-day ice-free environments in the Maritime Antarctica has profound geomorphological and ecological implications. However, the timing of glacier retreat is still poorly understood. This is the case of the deglaciated areas existing in Byers (Livingston Island) and Barton (King George Island) peninsulas. The dating of the basal sediments collected from different lakes in these two peninsulas allowed inferences of the ages of formation of each lake. The integration of these ages enables the reconstruction ofthe spatial and temporal pattern of deglaciation of these areas. The chronological framework has been establishedusing two complementary techniques: radiocarbon and thermoluminescence dating. In both peninsulas the deglaciation started during the Early Holocene, around 8 ka cal BP. The areas located far away from the current ice domes and the highest peaks in the two peninsulas (nunataks) were the first areas to become ice -free. During the mid- Holocene (5-6 ka cal BP) the central part of these peninsulas was progressively deglaciated. Finally, during the Late Holocene glacier fronts remained confined to the current position defined by the present frontal moraines, with minor advances and retreats. © 2016, Asociacion Espanola para el Estudio del Cuaternario (AEQUA). All rights reserved. Este trabajo fue financiado por el proyecto de investigación HOLOANTAR (Holocene environmental change in the Maritime Antarctic.Interactions Between permafrost and the lacustrine environment) y el Programa Polar Portugués (PROPOLAR), ambos financiados por la Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia de Portugal. Peer reviewed