Switching of a paleo-ice stream in northwest Svalbard
Ice streams are the fast-flowing zones of ice sheets that can discharge a large flux of ice. The glaciated western Svalbard margin consists of several cross-shelf troughs which are the former ice stream drainage pathways during the Pliocene–Pleistocene glaciations. From an integrated analysis of hig...
Published in: | Quaternary Science Reviews |
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2011
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Online Access: | https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/11542/ https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/11542/1/Switching.pdf https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/11542/3/1-s2.0-S0277379113000425-main.pdf https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2011.03.013 |
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ftoceanrep:oai:oceanrep.geomar.de:11542 2023-05-15T16:40:29+02:00 Switching of a paleo-ice stream in northwest Svalbard Sarkar, Sudipta Berndt, Christian Chabert, A. Masson, D. G. Minshull, T. A. Westbrook, G. K. 2011 text https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/11542/ https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/11542/1/Switching.pdf https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/11542/3/1-s2.0-S0277379113000425-main.pdf https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2011.03.013 en eng Elsevier https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/11542/1/Switching.pdf https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/11542/3/1-s2.0-S0277379113000425-main.pdf Sarkar, S. , Berndt, C. , Chabert, A., Masson, D. G., Minshull, T. A. and Westbrook, G. K. (2011) Switching of a paleo-ice stream in northwest Svalbard. Quaternary Science Reviews, 30 (13-14). pp. 1710-1725. DOI 10.1016/j.quascirev.2011.03.013 <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2011.03.013>. doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2011.03.013 info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Article PeerReviewed 2011 ftoceanrep https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2011.03.013 2023-04-07T14:59:39Z Ice streams are the fast-flowing zones of ice sheets that can discharge a large flux of ice. The glaciated western Svalbard margin consists of several cross-shelf troughs which are the former ice stream drainage pathways during the Pliocene–Pleistocene glaciations. From an integrated analysis of high-resolution multibeam swath-bathymetric data and several high-resolution two-dimensional reflection seismic profiles across the western and northwestern Svalbard margin we infer the ice stream flow directions and the deposition centres of glacial debris that the ice streams deposited on the outer margin. Our results show that the northwestern margin of Svalbard experienced a switching of a major ice stream. Based on correlation with the regional seismic stratigraphy as well as the results from ODP 911 on Yermak Plateau and ODP 986 farther south on the western margin of Spitsbergen, off Van Mijenfjord, we find that first a northwestward flowing ice stream developed during initial northern hemispheric cooling (starting ∼2.8–2.6 Ma). A switch in ice stream flow direction to the present-day Kongsfjorden cross-shelf trough took place during a glaciation at ∼1.5 Ma or probably later during an intensive major glaciation phase known as the ‘Mid-Pleistocene Revolution’ starting at ∼1.0 Ma. The seismic and bathymetric data suggest that the switch was abrupt rather than gradual and we attribute it to the reaching of a tipping point when growth of the Svalbard ice sheet had reached a critical thickness and the ice sheet could overcome a topographic barrier. Highlights ► Reflection seismic data reveal two glacial fans at northwest Svalbard margin. ► The fans are result of ice stream activities during Pliocene–Pleistocene glaciations. ► Based on seismic and bathymetric data we find the flow directions of the ice streams. ► We find a switch in ice stream flow direction. ► The switch resulted as the ice sheet became thick and overcame a topographic barrier. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ice Sheet Kongsfjord* Kongsfjorden Svalbard Svalbard margin Van Mijenfjord Yermak plateau Spitsbergen OceanRep (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre für Ocean Research Kiel) Svalbard Yermak Plateau ENVELOPE(5.000,5.000,81.250,81.250) Quaternary Science Reviews 30 13-14 1710 1725 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
OceanRep (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre für Ocean Research Kiel) |
op_collection_id |
ftoceanrep |
language |
English |
description |
Ice streams are the fast-flowing zones of ice sheets that can discharge a large flux of ice. The glaciated western Svalbard margin consists of several cross-shelf troughs which are the former ice stream drainage pathways during the Pliocene–Pleistocene glaciations. From an integrated analysis of high-resolution multibeam swath-bathymetric data and several high-resolution two-dimensional reflection seismic profiles across the western and northwestern Svalbard margin we infer the ice stream flow directions and the deposition centres of glacial debris that the ice streams deposited on the outer margin. Our results show that the northwestern margin of Svalbard experienced a switching of a major ice stream. Based on correlation with the regional seismic stratigraphy as well as the results from ODP 911 on Yermak Plateau and ODP 986 farther south on the western margin of Spitsbergen, off Van Mijenfjord, we find that first a northwestward flowing ice stream developed during initial northern hemispheric cooling (starting ∼2.8–2.6 Ma). A switch in ice stream flow direction to the present-day Kongsfjorden cross-shelf trough took place during a glaciation at ∼1.5 Ma or probably later during an intensive major glaciation phase known as the ‘Mid-Pleistocene Revolution’ starting at ∼1.0 Ma. The seismic and bathymetric data suggest that the switch was abrupt rather than gradual and we attribute it to the reaching of a tipping point when growth of the Svalbard ice sheet had reached a critical thickness and the ice sheet could overcome a topographic barrier. Highlights ► Reflection seismic data reveal two glacial fans at northwest Svalbard margin. ► The fans are result of ice stream activities during Pliocene–Pleistocene glaciations. ► Based on seismic and bathymetric data we find the flow directions of the ice streams. ► We find a switch in ice stream flow direction. ► The switch resulted as the ice sheet became thick and overcame a topographic barrier. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Sarkar, Sudipta Berndt, Christian Chabert, A. Masson, D. G. Minshull, T. A. Westbrook, G. K. |
spellingShingle |
Sarkar, Sudipta Berndt, Christian Chabert, A. Masson, D. G. Minshull, T. A. Westbrook, G. K. Switching of a paleo-ice stream in northwest Svalbard |
author_facet |
Sarkar, Sudipta Berndt, Christian Chabert, A. Masson, D. G. Minshull, T. A. Westbrook, G. K. |
author_sort |
Sarkar, Sudipta |
title |
Switching of a paleo-ice stream in northwest Svalbard |
title_short |
Switching of a paleo-ice stream in northwest Svalbard |
title_full |
Switching of a paleo-ice stream in northwest Svalbard |
title_fullStr |
Switching of a paleo-ice stream in northwest Svalbard |
title_full_unstemmed |
Switching of a paleo-ice stream in northwest Svalbard |
title_sort |
switching of a paleo-ice stream in northwest svalbard |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/11542/ https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/11542/1/Switching.pdf https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/11542/3/1-s2.0-S0277379113000425-main.pdf https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2011.03.013 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(5.000,5.000,81.250,81.250) |
geographic |
Svalbard Yermak Plateau |
geographic_facet |
Svalbard Yermak Plateau |
genre |
Ice Sheet Kongsfjord* Kongsfjorden Svalbard Svalbard margin Van Mijenfjord Yermak plateau Spitsbergen |
genre_facet |
Ice Sheet Kongsfjord* Kongsfjorden Svalbard Svalbard margin Van Mijenfjord Yermak plateau Spitsbergen |
op_relation |
https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/11542/1/Switching.pdf https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/11542/3/1-s2.0-S0277379113000425-main.pdf Sarkar, S. , Berndt, C. , Chabert, A., Masson, D. G., Minshull, T. A. and Westbrook, G. K. (2011) Switching of a paleo-ice stream in northwest Svalbard. Quaternary Science Reviews, 30 (13-14). pp. 1710-1725. DOI 10.1016/j.quascirev.2011.03.013 <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2011.03.013>. doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2011.03.013 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2011.03.013 |
container_title |
Quaternary Science Reviews |
container_volume |
30 |
container_issue |
13-14 |
container_start_page |
1710 |
op_container_end_page |
1725 |
_version_ |
1766030886781845504 |