Evidence for glaciation in the Northern Hemisphere back to 44 Ma from ice-rafted debris in the Greenland Sea

The widely accepted age estimate for the onset of glaciation in the Northern Hemisphere ranges between 2 and 15 million years ago (Ma). However, recent studies indicate the date for glacial onset may be significantly older. We report the presence of ice-rafted debris (IRD) in ∼44 to 30 Ma sediments...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Main Authors: Tripati, A. K., Eagle, R. A., Morton, A., Dowdeswell, J. A., Atkinson, K. L., Bahe, Y., Dawber, C. F., Khadun, E., Shaw, R. M. H., Shorttle, O., Thanabalasundaram, L.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2008
Subjects:
01 - Climate Change and Earth-Ocean Atmosphere Systems
Greenland
Greenland Sea
Ice Sheet
North Atlantic
Online Access:http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/753/
http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/753/1/Tripati_et_al_EPSL_265_2008.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2007.09.045
Description
Summary:The widely accepted age estimate for the onset of glaciation in the Northern Hemisphere ranges between 2 and 15 million years ago (Ma). However, recent studies indicate the date for glacial onset may be significantly older. We report the presence of ice-rafted debris (IRD) in ∼44 to 30 Ma sediments from the Greenland Sea, evidence for glaciation in the North Atlantic during the Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene. Detailed sedimentological evidence indicates that glaciers extended to sea level in the region, allowing icebergs to be produced. IRD may have been sourced from tidewater glaciers, small ice caps, and/or a continental ice sheet.

Similar Items