Projects per year
Abstract / Description of output
We present radio-echo sounding data and satellite imagery, revealing a series of ancient large sub-parallel subglacial channels preserved in the region between the Möller and Foundation Ice Streams, West Antarctica. We suggest these newly-recognised channels were formed by significant water routed along the ice-sheet bed. Taking into account the present geographical and hydrological setting of the channels, we find a subglacial lake source for channel formation less likely than water originating from the ice surface. The Greenland Ice Sheet today exemplifies how significant seasonal surface melt is transferred to the bed via englacial routing. For West Antarctica, the Pliocene (2.6-5.3 Ma) represents the most recent sustained period when temperatures could have been high enough to generate surface melt comparable to Greenland today. We propose, therefore, that a temperate ice sheet was present (at least periodically) in this location under ancient warm conditions during, and prior to, the Pliocene.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 971-974 |
Journal | Geology |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- Antarctica
- Weddell Sea sector
- Pliocene
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'A temperate former West Antarctic ice sheet suggested by an extensive zone of bed channels'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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Airborne geophysical investigation targets basal boundary conditions for the Institute and Moeller Ice Streams, West Antarctica
1/04/10 → 31/07/14
Project: Project from a former institution
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Airborne Geophysical Investigations targets basal boundary conditions for the institute mollar ice streams, west antartica
Siegert, M.
1/04/10 → 31/08/13
Project: Research
Research output
- 1 Article
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Ice‐flow structure and ice‐dynamic changes in the Weddell Sea sector of West Antarctica from radar-imaged internal layering
Bingham, R. G., Rippin, D. M., Karlsson, N. B., Corr, H. F. J., Jordan, T. A., Le Brocq, A. M., Rose, K. C., Ross, N. & Siegert, M. J., 11 May 2015, In: Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface. 120, 4, p. 655-670Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile
Profiles
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Robert Bingham
- School of Geosciences - Personal Chair of Glaciology and Geophysics
Person: Academic: Research Active