Cosmogenic nuclides constrain surface fluctuations of an East Antarctic outlet glacier since the Pliocene

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dc.contributor.authorJones, JSen_AU
dc.contributor.authorNorton, KPen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMackintosh, ANen_AU
dc.contributor.authorAnderson, JTHen_AU
dc.contributor.authorKubik, Pen_AU
dc.contributor.authorVockenhuber, Cen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWittmann, Hen_AU
dc.contributor.authorFink, Den_AU
dc.contributor.authorWilson, GSen_AU
dc.contributor.authorGolledge, NRen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMcKay, RMen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2021-12-16T04:49:42Zen_AU
dc.date.available2021-12-16T04:49:42Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2017-12-05en_AU
dc.date.statistics2021-11-14en_AU
dc.description.abstractUnderstanding past changes in the Antarctic ice sheets provides insight into how they might respond to future climate warming. During the Pliocene and Pleistocene, geological data show that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet responded to glacial and interglacial cycles by remaining relatively stable in its interior, but oscillating at its marine-based margin. It is currently not clear how outlet glaciers, which connect the ice sheet interior to its margin, responded to these orbitally-paced climate cycles. Here we report new ice surface constraints from Skelton Glacier, an outlet of the East Antarctic ice sheet, which drains into the Ross Ice Shelf. Our multiple-isotope (10Be and 26Al) cosmogenic nuclide data indicate that currently ice-free areas adjacent to the glacier underwent substantial periods of exposure and ice cover in the past. We use an exposure-burial model driven by orbitally-paced glacial–interglacial cycles to determine the probable ice surface history implied by our data. This analysis shows that: 1) the glacier surface has likely fluctuated since at least the Pliocene; 2) the ice surface was >200 m higher than today during glacial periods, and the glacier has been thicker than present for ∼75–90% of each glacial–interglacial cycle; and 3) ice cover at higher elevations possibly occurred for a relatively shorter time per Pliocene cycle than Pleistocene cycle. Our multiple-nuclide approach demonstrates the magnitude of ice surface fluctuations during the Pliocene and Pleistocene that are linked to marine-based ice margin variability. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationJones, J. S., Norton, K. P., Mackintosh, A. N., Anderson, J. T. H., Kubik, P., Vockenhuber, C., Wittmann, H., Fink, D., Wilson, G. S., Golledge, N. R., McKay, R. (2017). Cosmogenic nuclides constrain surface fluctuations of an East Antarctic outlet glacier since the Pliocene. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 480, 75-86, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2017.09.014en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0012-821Xen_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleEarth and Planetary Science Lettersen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination75-86en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2017.09.014en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/12496en_AU
dc.identifier.volume480en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevieren_AU
dc.subjectAntarcticaen_AU
dc.subjectClimatic changeen_AU
dc.subjectPleistocene epochen_AU
dc.subjectQuaternary perioden_AU
dc.subjectIsotopesen_AU
dc.subjectIceen_AU
dc.titleCosmogenic nuclides constrain surface fluctuations of an East Antarctic outlet glacier since the Plioceneen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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