Dated radar-stratigraphy between Dome A and South Pole, East Antarctica: old ice potential and ice sheet history
An array of information about the Antarctic ice sheet can be extracted from ice-sheet internal architecture imaged by airborne ice-penetrating radar surveys. We identify, trace and date three key internal reflection horizons (IRHs) across multiple radar surveys from South Pole to Dome A, East Antarc...
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Cambridge University Press
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Glaciology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143024000601/type/journal_article |
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| author | Rebecca J. Sanderson Neil Ross Kate Winter Robert G. Bingham S. Louise Callard Tom A. Jordan Duncan A. Young |
| author_facet | Rebecca J. Sanderson Neil Ross Kate Winter Robert G. Bingham S. Louise Callard Tom A. Jordan Duncan A. Young |
| author_sort | Rebecca J. Sanderson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | An array of information about the Antarctic ice sheet can be extracted from ice-sheet internal architecture imaged by airborne ice-penetrating radar surveys. We identify, trace and date three key internal reflection horizons (IRHs) across multiple radar surveys from South Pole to Dome A, East Antarctica. Ages of ~38 ± 2.2, ~90 ± 3.6 and ~162 ± 6.7 ka are assigned to the three IRHs, with verification of the upper IRH age from the South Pole ice core. The resultant englacial stratigraphy is used to identify the locations of the oldest ice, specifically in the upper Byrd Glacier catchment and the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains. The distinct glaciological conditions of the Gamburtsev Mountains, including slower ice flow, low geothermal heat flux and frozen base, make it the more likely to host the oldest ice. We also observe a distinct drawdown of IRH geometry around South Pole, indicative of melting from enhanced geothermal heat flux or the removal of deeper, older ice under a previous faster ice flow regime. Our traced IRHs underpin the wider objective to develop a continental-scale database of IRHs which will constrain and validate future ice-sheet modelling and the history of the Antarctic ice sheet. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-09641a61464649d9bddf230f1ee552b3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Glaciology |
| spelling | doaj-art-09641a61464649d9bddf230f1ee552b32025-01-16T21:49:29ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Glaciology0022-14301727-56522024-01-017010.1017/jog.2024.60Dated radar-stratigraphy between Dome A and South Pole, East Antarctica: old ice potential and ice sheet historyRebecca J. Sanderson0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9000-0519Neil Ross1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8338-4905Kate Winter2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2389-8637Robert G. Bingham3S. Louise Callard4Tom A. Jordan5Duncan A. Young6School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UKSchool of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UKDepartment of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle, UKSchool of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UKSchool of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UKBritish Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UKInstitute for Geophysics, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USAAn array of information about the Antarctic ice sheet can be extracted from ice-sheet internal architecture imaged by airborne ice-penetrating radar surveys. We identify, trace and date three key internal reflection horizons (IRHs) across multiple radar surveys from South Pole to Dome A, East Antarctica. Ages of ~38 ± 2.2, ~90 ± 3.6 and ~162 ± 6.7 ka are assigned to the three IRHs, with verification of the upper IRH age from the South Pole ice core. The resultant englacial stratigraphy is used to identify the locations of the oldest ice, specifically in the upper Byrd Glacier catchment and the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains. The distinct glaciological conditions of the Gamburtsev Mountains, including slower ice flow, low geothermal heat flux and frozen base, make it the more likely to host the oldest ice. We also observe a distinct drawdown of IRH geometry around South Pole, indicative of melting from enhanced geothermal heat flux or the removal of deeper, older ice under a previous faster ice flow regime. Our traced IRHs underpin the wider objective to develop a continental-scale database of IRHs which will constrain and validate future ice-sheet modelling and the history of the Antarctic ice sheet.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143024000601/type/journal_articleEast Antarcticaenglacial stratigraphyice chronologyradio-echo sounding |
| spellingShingle | Rebecca J. Sanderson Neil Ross Kate Winter Robert G. Bingham S. Louise Callard Tom A. Jordan Duncan A. Young Dated radar-stratigraphy between Dome A and South Pole, East Antarctica: old ice potential and ice sheet history Journal of Glaciology East Antarctica englacial stratigraphy ice chronology radio-echo sounding |
| title | Dated radar-stratigraphy between Dome A and South Pole, East Antarctica: old ice potential and ice sheet history |
| title_full | Dated radar-stratigraphy between Dome A and South Pole, East Antarctica: old ice potential and ice sheet history |
| title_fullStr | Dated radar-stratigraphy between Dome A and South Pole, East Antarctica: old ice potential and ice sheet history |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dated radar-stratigraphy between Dome A and South Pole, East Antarctica: old ice potential and ice sheet history |
| title_short | Dated radar-stratigraphy between Dome A and South Pole, East Antarctica: old ice potential and ice sheet history |
| title_sort | dated radar stratigraphy between dome a and south pole east antarctica old ice potential and ice sheet history |
| topic | East Antarctica englacial stratigraphy ice chronology radio-echo sounding |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143024000601/type/journal_article |
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