Quaternary stratigraphy and glacial history of the Lower Taylor Valley, Antarctica

Vucetich, C. G.; Robinson, P. H.

doi:10.1080/00288306.1978.10424072

“…For scale, the distance between Suess and Taylor Glaciers is approximately 15 km and this portion of the valley is as much as 3 km wide. and Robinson 1978;Denton et al 1989;Steig 1996). More recently, studies at Taylor Dome and other ice core sites in Greenland and Antarctica have involved detailed climate comparisons (Bender et al 1994;Sowers and Bender 1995;Steig et al 1998).…”

Section: Bonney Driftmentioning

confidence: 97%

Geochronology of bonney drift, taylor valley, antarctica: evidence for interglacial expansions of taylor glacier

Higgins

¹

,

Hendy

²

,

Denton

³

2000

Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography

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Lacustrine algal carbonates, which form in shallow proglacial lakes, were found in most excavations into Bonney drift. Both in situ and reworked carbonate samples produced 49 new uranium/thorium (U/ Th) dates. U/Th dates of 70 to 130 ka for samples collected from excavations and natural sections, along with geomorphologic evidence reported elsewhere in this issue, confirm that the Bonney advance of Taylor Glacier, along with the concurrent expansion of local alpine glaciers, occurred during the interglaciation corresponding with marine isotope stage (MIS) 5. In addition, δ 18 O values (-35 to -43‰) of the algal carbonates confirm deposition in a proglacial lake fed by Taylor Glacier meltwater. The detailed distribution of U/Th dates shows that Bonney ice advances occurred in substages 5a, 5c, and 5e. The δ 18 O record of the Taylor Dome ice core also indicates ice thickening during these same intervals. The inclusion of older carbonates in Bonney drift affords evidence for proglacial lakes during MIS 7 (160 to 240 ka), MIS 9 (270 to 330 ka), and MIS 11 or older (>370 ka). It is probable that these proglacial lakes were also associated with interglacial expansions of Taylor Glacier. This terrestrial U/Th geochronology affords a regional constraint on the late Quaternary behavior of the peripheral sector of the EAIS drained by Taylor Glacier, consistent with expansion during global interglaciations and recession during global glaciations.

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“…The glacial history of Taylor Valley has been the subject of previous investigations because of the linkage of Taylor Glacier to the EAIS (Shaw 1977;Hendy et al 1977Hendy et al , 1979Robinson 1979;Vucetich and Robinson 1978;Denton et al 1989;Steig 1996). More recently, studies at Taylor Dome and other ice core sites in Greenland and Antarctica have involved detailed climate comparisons (Bender et al 1994;Sowers and Bender 1995;Steig et al 1998).…”

Section: Bonney Driftmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geochronology of Bonney Drift, Taylor Valley, Antarctica: Evidence for Interglacial Expansions of Taylor Glacier

Higgins¹,

Hendy²,

Denton³

2000

Geografiska Annaler A

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Lacustrine algal carbonates, which form in shallow proglacial lakes, were found in most excavations into Bonney drift. Both in situ and reworked carbonate samples produced 49 new uranium/thorium (U/ Th) dates. U/Th dates of 70 to 130 ka for samples collected from excavations and natural sections, along with geomorphologic evidence reported elsewhere in this issue, confirm that the Bonney advance of Taylor Glacier, along with the concurrent expansion of local alpine glaciers, occurred during the interglaciation corresponding with marine isotope stage (MIS) 5. In addition, δ 18 O values (-35 to -43‰) of the algal carbonates confirm deposition in a proglacial lake fed by Taylor Glacier meltwater. The detailed distribution of U/Th dates shows that Bonney ice advances occurred in substages 5a, 5c, and 5e. The δ 18 O record of the Taylor Dome ice core also indicates ice thickening during these same intervals. The inclusion of older carbonates in Bonney drift affords evidence for proglacial lakes during MIS 7 (160 to 240 ka), MIS 9 (270 to 330 ka), and MIS 11 or older (>370 ka). It is probable that these proglacial lakes were also associated with interglacial expansions of Taylor Glacier. This terrestrial U/Th geochronology affords a regional constraint on the late Quaternary behavior of the peripheral sector of the EAIS drained by Taylor Glacier, consistent with expansion during global interglaciations and recession during global glaciations.

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“…Age determinations using the potassium-argon method The volcanic rocks, tuffs and lavas overlie glacially abraded bedrock in the valley bottom and on higher slope terraces, but locally were again overrun by glacier advances that must therefore be more recent. While glacial deposits in the lower valley bottoms may have a relatively young age of only a few thousand years (Vucetich and Robinson, 1978;Berg and Black, 1966), the deposits in the higher valley areas are seen to be substantially older (Pe'we', 1960). Selby and Wilson (1971) have calculated a minimum of 9.5 million years for now icefree cirques in the neighboring Wright Valley.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Physical weathering in Taylor valley, Victoria land, Antartica

Miotke

¹

1982

Polar Geography and Geology

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Daily temperature variations in the rocks and soils of Taylor Valley, Antarctica (77°40'S, 162°45'E) were recorded during December and January 1976-77. Two series of measurements were taken, each lasting three days. Under clear skies, daily temperature ranges of about 35°C are possible. Maximum temperatures reach +30°C. At greater depths, daily maximum and minimum peaks become less distinct and show delays of some hours. The permafrost table in the Nussbaum Riegel (Taylor Valley) lies at a depth of 70-100 cm in rock and at 20-30 cm in soil. Depending on albedo and relief situations in certain locations the permafrost table lies even closer to the surface. Temperature and moisture data were used to explain the physical weathering processes affecting rocks in Taylor Valley. Microclimate is a dominant factor in frost shattering and in temperature-induced stress in the rocks. Temperature differences within the rocks and soil initiate salt weathering processes. High summer temperatures well above 0°C allow chemical weathering processes at the rock surface in Antarctica. Well-preserved small-scale features of glacial erosion on the top of the Nussbaum Riegel (850 m) in the center of Taylor Valley tend to contradict the theory that this part of the valley has been free of ice for a long time. (The translation is

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Quaternary stratigraphy and glacial history of the Lower Taylor Valley, Antarctica

Abstract: Well·bedded glacioaqueous sediments exposed in Lower Taylor Valley meltwater streams are informally defined as lithofacies by texture and lithology, and assigned to chronozones.

Cited by 9 publications

References 14 publications

Geochronology of bonney drift, taylor valley, antarctica: evidence for interglacial expansions of taylor glacier

Geochronology of bonney drift, taylor valley, antarctica: evidence for interglacial expansions of taylor glacier

Geochronology of Bonney Drift, Taylor Valley, Antarctica: Evidence for Interglacial Expansions of Taylor Glacier

Physical weathering in Taylor valley, Victoria land, Antartica

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