Cenozoic landscape evolution of an East Antarctic oasis (Radok Lake area, northern Prince Charles Mountains), and its implications for the glacial and climatic history of Antarctica

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dc.contributor.authorHambrey, MJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorGlasser, NFen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMcKelvey, BCen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSugden, DEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorFink, Den_AU
dc.date.accessioned2008-04-08T03:38:13Zen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2010-04-30T05:03:26Zen_AU
dc.date.available2008-04-08T03:38:13Zen_AU
dc.date.available2010-04-30T05:03:26Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2007-03en_AU
dc.date.statistics2007-03en_AU
dc.description.abstractIce-free areas Antarctica reveal a multi-million year history of landscape evolution, but most attention up to now has focused on the Transantarctic Mountains. The Amery Oasis in the northern Prince Charles Mountains borders the Lambert Glacier-Amery Ice Shelf System that drains 1 million km(2) of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, and therefore provides a record of fluctuations of both local and regional ice since the ice sheet first formed in early Oligocene time. This glacial record has been deciphered by (i) geomorphological mapping from aerial photographs and on the ground, (ii) documenting the relationship between thick well-dated, uplifted glaciomarine strata and the underlying palaeolandscape, (iii) examining surficial sediment facies, and (iv) surface-exposure dating using Be-10 and Al-26. The SE Amery Oasis records at least 10 million years of landscape evolution beginning with a pre-late Miocene phase of glacial erosion, followed by deposition of glaciomarine strata of the Battye Glacier Formation (Pagodroma Group) in late Miocene time. A wet-based ice sheet next expanded over the SE Amery Oasis, following which deposition of the glaciomarine Pliocene Bardin Bluffs Formation (Pagodroma Group) took place. Both formations were uplifted;, by at least 500 and 200m, respectively. Their tops are characterised by geomorphological surfaces upon which intensive periglacial activity took place. Higher-level bedrock areas were subjected to deep weathering and torformation. Early Pleistocene time was characterised by expansion of a cold-based ice sheet across the whole area, but it left little more than patches of sandy gravel and erratic blocks. Late Pleistocene expansion of local ice (the Battye Glacier) saw deposition of moraine-mound complexes on low ground around Radok Lake and ice-dammed lake phenomena. Subglacial drainage of the lake escaped to the east exhuming the sediment-filled gorges. Holocene landscape modification has been relatively superficial. Overall, the landscape of the Amery Oasis evolved primarily under the influence of wet-based (probably polythermal) glaciers in Miocene and Pliocene times, whereas the Quaternary Period was characterised mainly by cold-based glaciers that had comparatively little impact on the landscape. © 2007, Elsevier Ltd.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationHambrey, M. J., Glasser, N. F., McKelvey, B. C., Sugden, D. E., & Fink, D. (2007). Cenozoic landscape evolution of an East Antarctic oasis (Radok Lake area, northern Prince Charles Mountains), and its implications for the glacial and climatic history of Antarctica. Quaternary Science Reviews, 26(5-6), 598-626. doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2006.11.014en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc1223en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0277-3791en_AU
dc.identifier.issue5-6en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleQuaternary Science Reviewsen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination598-626en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2006.11.014en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/1052en_AU
dc.identifier.volume26en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevieren_AU
dc.subjectCenozoic Eraen_AU
dc.subjectEvolutionen_AU
dc.subjectClimatesen_AU
dc.subjectAntarcticaen_AU
dc.subjectTectonicsen_AU
dc.subjectIceen_AU
dc.titleCenozoic landscape evolution of an East Antarctic oasis (Radok Lake area, northern Prince Charles Mountains), and its implications for the glacial and climatic history of Antarcticaen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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