A Large West Antarctic Ice Sheet Explains Early Neogene Sea-level Amplitude
Early to Middle Miocene sea-level oscillations of approximately 40–60 m estimated from far-field records1–3 are interpreted to reflect the loss of virtually all East Antarctic ice during peak warmth2. This contrasts with ice-sheet model experiments suggesting most terrestrial ice in East Antarctica...
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Digital Commons @ University of South Florida
2021
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Online Access: | https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/2464 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04148-0 |
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ftusouthflorida:oai:digitalcommons.usf.edu:msc_facpub-3481 2023-07-30T03:59:01+02:00 A Large West Antarctic Ice Sheet Explains Early Neogene Sea-level Amplitude Marschalek, J. W. Zurli, L. Talarico, F. van de Flierdt, Flierdt Vermeesch, P. Carter, A. Beny, F. Bout-Roumazeilles, V. Sangiorgi, F. Hemming, S. R. Pérez, L. F. Colleoni, F. Prebble, J. G. van Peer, T. E. Perotti, M. Shevenell, A. E. Browne, I. Kulhanek, D. K. Levy, R. Harwood, D. Sullivan, N. B. Meyers, S. R. Griffith, E. M. Hillenbrand, C.-D. Gasson, E. Siegert, M. J. Keisling, B. Licht, K. J. Kuhn, G. Dodd, J. P. Boshuis, C. De Santis, L. McKay, R. M. 2021-01-01T08:00:00Z https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/2464 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04148-0 unknown Digital Commons @ University of South Florida https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/2464 doi:10.1038/s41586-021-04148-0 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04148-0 Marine Science Faculty Publications Cryospheric science Geochemistry Palaeoclimate Life Sciences article 2021 ftusouthflorida https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04148-0 2023-07-13T21:07:30Z Early to Middle Miocene sea-level oscillations of approximately 40–60 m estimated from far-field records1–3 are interpreted to reflect the loss of virtually all East Antarctic ice during peak warmth2. This contrasts with ice-sheet model experiments suggesting most terrestrial ice in East Antarctica was retained even during the warmest intervals of the Middle Miocene4,5. Data and model outputs can be reconciled if a large West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) existed and expanded across most of the outer continental shelf during the Early Miocene, accounting for maximum ice-sheet volumes. Here we provide the earliest geological evidence proving large WAIS expansions occurred during the Early Miocene (~17.72–17.40 Ma). Geochemical and petrographic data show glacimarine sediments recovered at International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Site U1521 in the central Ross Sea derive from West Antarctica, requiring the presence of a WAIS covering most of the Ross Sea continental shelf. Seismic, lithological and palynological data reveal the intermittent proximity of grounded ice to Site U1521. The erosion rate calculated from this sediment package greatly exceeds the long-term mean, implying rapid erosion of West Antarctica. This interval therefore captures a key step in the genesis of a marine-based WAIS and a tipping point in Antarctic ice-sheet evolution. Variations in Miocene sea level can be explained by a large marine-based West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica East Antarctica Ice Sheet Ross Sea West Antarctica University of South Florida St. Petersburg: Digital USFSP Antarctic East Antarctica Ross Sea West Antarctic Ice Sheet West Antarctica Nature 600 7889 450 455 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of South Florida St. Petersburg: Digital USFSP |
op_collection_id |
ftusouthflorida |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Cryospheric science Geochemistry Palaeoclimate Life Sciences |
spellingShingle |
Cryospheric science Geochemistry Palaeoclimate Life Sciences Marschalek, J. W. Zurli, L. Talarico, F. van de Flierdt, Flierdt Vermeesch, P. Carter, A. Beny, F. Bout-Roumazeilles, V. Sangiorgi, F. Hemming, S. R. Pérez, L. F. Colleoni, F. Prebble, J. G. van Peer, T. E. Perotti, M. Shevenell, A. E. Browne, I. Kulhanek, D. K. Levy, R. Harwood, D. Sullivan, N. B. Meyers, S. R. Griffith, E. M. Hillenbrand, C.-D. Gasson, E. Siegert, M. J. Keisling, B. Licht, K. J. Kuhn, G. Dodd, J. P. Boshuis, C. De Santis, L. McKay, R. M. A Large West Antarctic Ice Sheet Explains Early Neogene Sea-level Amplitude |
topic_facet |
Cryospheric science Geochemistry Palaeoclimate Life Sciences |
description |
Early to Middle Miocene sea-level oscillations of approximately 40–60 m estimated from far-field records1–3 are interpreted to reflect the loss of virtually all East Antarctic ice during peak warmth2. This contrasts with ice-sheet model experiments suggesting most terrestrial ice in East Antarctica was retained even during the warmest intervals of the Middle Miocene4,5. Data and model outputs can be reconciled if a large West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) existed and expanded across most of the outer continental shelf during the Early Miocene, accounting for maximum ice-sheet volumes. Here we provide the earliest geological evidence proving large WAIS expansions occurred during the Early Miocene (~17.72–17.40 Ma). Geochemical and petrographic data show glacimarine sediments recovered at International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Site U1521 in the central Ross Sea derive from West Antarctica, requiring the presence of a WAIS covering most of the Ross Sea continental shelf. Seismic, lithological and palynological data reveal the intermittent proximity of grounded ice to Site U1521. The erosion rate calculated from this sediment package greatly exceeds the long-term mean, implying rapid erosion of West Antarctica. This interval therefore captures a key step in the genesis of a marine-based WAIS and a tipping point in Antarctic ice-sheet evolution. Variations in Miocene sea level can be explained by a large marine-based West Antarctic Ice Sheet. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Marschalek, J. W. Zurli, L. Talarico, F. van de Flierdt, Flierdt Vermeesch, P. Carter, A. Beny, F. Bout-Roumazeilles, V. Sangiorgi, F. Hemming, S. R. Pérez, L. F. Colleoni, F. Prebble, J. G. van Peer, T. E. Perotti, M. Shevenell, A. E. Browne, I. Kulhanek, D. K. Levy, R. Harwood, D. Sullivan, N. B. Meyers, S. R. Griffith, E. M. Hillenbrand, C.-D. Gasson, E. Siegert, M. J. Keisling, B. Licht, K. J. Kuhn, G. Dodd, J. P. Boshuis, C. De Santis, L. McKay, R. M. |
author_facet |
Marschalek, J. W. Zurli, L. Talarico, F. van de Flierdt, Flierdt Vermeesch, P. Carter, A. Beny, F. Bout-Roumazeilles, V. Sangiorgi, F. Hemming, S. R. Pérez, L. F. Colleoni, F. Prebble, J. G. van Peer, T. E. Perotti, M. Shevenell, A. E. Browne, I. Kulhanek, D. K. Levy, R. Harwood, D. Sullivan, N. B. Meyers, S. R. Griffith, E. M. Hillenbrand, C.-D. Gasson, E. Siegert, M. J. Keisling, B. Licht, K. J. Kuhn, G. Dodd, J. P. Boshuis, C. De Santis, L. McKay, R. M. |
author_sort |
Marschalek, J. W. |
title |
A Large West Antarctic Ice Sheet Explains Early Neogene Sea-level Amplitude |
title_short |
A Large West Antarctic Ice Sheet Explains Early Neogene Sea-level Amplitude |
title_full |
A Large West Antarctic Ice Sheet Explains Early Neogene Sea-level Amplitude |
title_fullStr |
A Large West Antarctic Ice Sheet Explains Early Neogene Sea-level Amplitude |
title_full_unstemmed |
A Large West Antarctic Ice Sheet Explains Early Neogene Sea-level Amplitude |
title_sort |
large west antarctic ice sheet explains early neogene sea-level amplitude |
publisher |
Digital Commons @ University of South Florida |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/2464 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04148-0 |
geographic |
Antarctic East Antarctica Ross Sea West Antarctic Ice Sheet West Antarctica |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic East Antarctica Ross Sea West Antarctic Ice Sheet West Antarctica |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica East Antarctica Ice Sheet Ross Sea West Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica East Antarctica Ice Sheet Ross Sea West Antarctica |
op_source |
Marine Science Faculty Publications |
op_relation |
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/2464 doi:10.1038/s41586-021-04148-0 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04148-0 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04148-0 |
container_title |
Nature |
container_volume |
600 |
container_issue |
7889 |
container_start_page |
450 |
op_container_end_page |
455 |
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1772809724971974656 |