Glacial and climate history of the Firth of Tay, northeastern Antarctic peninsula

This study presents the Holocene deglacial and climate history from the Firth of Tay, Antarctic Peninsula derived from sediment cores and geophysical analysis. A robust chronostratigraphy is used to establish the timing of glacial and climate events that are determined from multiple proxies includin...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Michalchuk, Bradley Ross
Other Authors: Anderson, John B.
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2008
Subjects:
Tay
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/1911/103621
Description
Summary:This study presents the Holocene deglacial and climate history from the Firth of Tay, Antarctic Peninsula derived from sediment cores and geophysical analysis. A robust chronostratigraphy is used to establish the timing of glacial and climate events that are determined from multiple proxies including: magnetic susceptibility, grain size, ice-rafted debris, organic carbon, diatoms, and foraminifera. Results indicate the Antarctic Peninsula Ice Shelf decoupled from the seafloor ∼9370 14 C yr BP and subsequently retreated. Significant glacial retreat and relatively warm conditions occurred between ∼8280-6010 14 C yr BP. This was followed by a glacial re-advance (between 6010-4500 14 C yr BP) and a retreat from 4500-3540 14 C yr BP. From 3540 14 C yr BP until near present colder and more variable ice conditions existed. Finally, a rapid regional warming has occurred throughout the Antarctic Peninsula during the past century that appears to be unprecedented during the Holocene epoch.