Glacial history of the Antarctic Peninsula since the Last Glacial Maximum - a synthesis

• Published in: Polar Research
• Main Authors: Ingolfsson, O, Hjort, Christian
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley-Blackwell 2002
• Subjects: Geology; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Antarc*; Ice Shelves; Polar Research
• Online Access: https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/320569; https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-8369.2002.tb00075.x

The extent of ice, thickness and dynamics of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) ice sheets in the Antarctic Peninsula region, as well as the pattern of subsequent deglaciation and climate development, are not well constrained in time and space. During the LGM, ice thickened considerably and expanded towards the middle-outer submarine shelves around the Antarctic Peninsula. Deglaciation was slow, occurring mainly between >14 Ky BP (C-14 kilo years before present) and ca. 6 Ky BP, when interglacial climate was established in the region. After a climate optimum, peaking ca. 4 - 3 Ky BP, a cooling trend started, with expanding glaciers and ice shelves. Rapid warming during the past 50 years may be causing instability to some Antarctic Peninsula ice shelves.