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Landscape evolution and ice-sheet behaviour in a semi-arid polar environment: James Ross Island, NE Antarctic Peninsula

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Bethan DaviesORCiD

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Abstract

This study of landscape evolution presents both new modern and palaeo processlandform data, and analyses the behaviour of the Antarctic Peninsula Ice Sheet through the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the Holocene and to the present day. Six sediment-landform assemblages re described and interpreted for Ulu Peninsula, James Ross Island, NE Antarctic Peninsula: (1) the Glacier Ice and Snow Assemblage; (2) the Glacigenic Assemblage, which relates to LGM sediments and comprises both erratic-poor and erratic-rich drift, deposited by cold-based and wetbased ice and ice streams respectively; (3) the Boulder Train Assemblage, deposited during a Mid-Holocene glacier readvance; (4) the Ice-cored Moraine Assemblage, found in front of small irque glaciers; (5) the Paraglacial Assemblage including scree, pebble-boulder lags, and littoral and fluvial processes; and (6) the Periglacial Assemblage including rock glaciers, protalus ramparts, blockfields, solifluction lobes and extensive patterned ground. The interplay between glacial, paraglacial and periglacial processes in this semi-arid polar environment is important in understanding polygenetic landforms. Crucially, cold-based ice was capable of sediment and landform genesis and modification. This landsystem model can aid the interpretation of past environments, but also provides new data to aid the reconstruction of the last ice sheet to overrun James Ross Island. © The Geological Society of London 2013.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Davies BJ, Glasser NF, Carrivick JL, Hambrey MJ, Smellie JL, Nyvlt D

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Geological Society Special Publication

Year: 2013

Volume: 381

Issue: 1

Pages: 353-395

Online publication date: 19/04/2013

ISSN (print): 0305-8719

ISSN (electronic): 2041-4927

Publisher: Geological Society Publishing House

URL: https://doi.org/10.1144/SP381.1

DOI: 10.1144/SP381.1


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