Earth science research on Marion Island (1996–2020): a synthesis and new findings

Abstract

Marion Island is a peak of a shield volcano located in the southern Indian Ocean. Annexed by South Africa in 1948, the island has been strategically important for the collection of climatological data and marine and terrestrial research in a vast, oceanic region of the globe. This paper reviews the series of earth science programmes on Marion Island over the last 25 years, provides a synthesis of the research outcomes and demonstrates how field and laboratory methods have developed over time. Marion Island has, globally, one of the most active soil frost environments in a distinctive periglacial setting and understanding this contemporary periglacial environment has been a key objective of the research programmes., Geomorphological processes have important implications for local ecosystem functioning and define the regional and global significance for diurnal soil frost environments and climate change. The review presented here shows that keeping abreast with the advancements of appropriate methodologies and technologies and the continued employment of a mix of new 2 and established methods has driven the earth science research in this unique island environment. A series of short vignettes present the most recent advancements on old key questions and indicate that new techniques continuously challenges us to re-evaluate the most basic of assumptions that exist within our research.

Commemorating three decades of the Southern African association of geomorphologists

“…Two papers from the SAAG conference-call report on 'off-shore' international programmes since the late 1990's that include southern African geomorphologists, students and co-workers from abroad. Nel et al (2021) summarize the Marion Island research project that has been operating since 1996 under the auspices of the South African Antarctic Programme. In a series of vignettes, Nel et al (2021) present new findings on a variety of sub-themes from this periglacial setting, including synoptic classifications, erosion caused by ground-ice, soil-frost gradients across the island, aeolian sediment activity and a revisit to the glacial history using cosmogenic nuclide exposure dating.…”

“…Nel et al (2021) summarize the Marion Island research project that has been operating since 1996 under the auspices of the South African Antarctic Programme. In a series of vignettes, Nel et al (2021) present new findings on a variety of sub-themes from this periglacial setting, including synoptic classifications, erosion caused by ground-ice, soil-frost gradients across the island, aeolian sediment activity and a revisit to the glacial history using cosmogenic nuclide exposure dating. Sumner et al (2021) provide an overview of collaborative South Africa and Mauritiusbased research on soil erosion on Mauritius.…”

“…However, it is interesting to note that since 2010, of the 31 presentations on 'cold climates', 24 present research on Antarctica and Marion Island. This is largely due to SAAG members being participants in the South African National Antarctic Programmes (Nel et al, 2021). Despite coastal and estuarine geomorphology enjoying some prominence locally (Holmes et al, 2016;P.…”

The glacial geomorphology of sub-Antarctic Marion Island

“…Bendle et al, 2017;Chandler et al, 2018). Sub-Antarctic Marion Island (46°54'S, 37°45'E) is one of the few islands in the southern Indian Ocean sector that can facilitate our understanding of glacial oscillations in this region (Boelhouwers et al, 2008;Hodgson et al, 2014;Nel et al, 2021). As on other sub-Antarctic islands, past glaciations have had a significant influence on the evolution of Marion Island's landscape (e.g.…”

“…Although some advancement has been made towards reconstructing Marion Island's glacial chronology , the spatial extent of these glacial periods remains unknown. Over the last five decades Marion Island's glacial geomorphology has been mapped during various field campaigns (Nel et al, 2021), but there is a need for a comprehensive and cohesive spatial geodatabase to provide a holistic glacial reconstruction. This paper aims to provide such a glacial geomorphological map and geodatabase, which incorporate existing inventories as well as new knowledge, that can be used in future studies to reconstruct Marion Island's Quaternary glacial and landscape history.…”