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

• Main Author: Michalchuk, Bradley Ross
• Other Authors: Anderson, John B.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: Geology; Earth sciences; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Firth of Tay; Tay; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Ice Shelf
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/1911/103621

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.