MIS3 To Late Holocene Palaeo-Ice Thickness Constraints of Glacier Viedma, Hielo Patagonico Sur, Southern South America

Geiger, A..J. , Fabel, D. and Glasser, N.F. (2014) MIS3 To Late Holocene Palaeo-Ice Thickness Constraints of Glacier Viedma, Hielo Patagonico Sur, Southern South America. AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA USA, 15-19 Dec 2014.

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Publisher's URL: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014AGUFM.C12B..05G

Abstract

Southern South America is the only landmass intersecting the southern westerly winds (SWW), which critically shape southern hemispheric and global climate. At present palaeo-climatic datasets stretching the 3000 km of SWW influence are in latitudinal disagreement, suggesting a complex picture of SWW palaeo-behavior. In order to unravel the nature of the SWW over the last glacial cycle, a tighter grid of sensitive palaeo-proxies in the region is required. The work presented here is based on the palaeo-glaciology of the Viedma outlet (49°S, 72°W), the second largest glacier draining the Hielo Patagonico Sur (HPS). This locality corresponds to the present day center of the precipitation bearing SWW in southern South America, which are a key factor in maintaining the HPS. Any variation in SWW strength or location has a direct impact on glacial expansion in the region, hence palaeo-glacial geometries can provide key insights into SWW dynamics. Palaeo-ice surface, thickness and thinning rates spanning MIS3 to the late Holocene are presented based on 16 Be-10 exposure ages along three vertical transects covering the accumulation and ablation areas of glacier Viedma. Results indicate a maximum ice thickness over MIS3, a thickening over the Antarctic Cold Reversal (ACR), which overprinted the vertical expression of the LGM, and progressive ice surface lowering from the middle to the late Holocene. The palaeo-climatic implications will be discussed, particularly with focus on SWW positioning and behavior.

Item Type:Conference or Workshop Item
Keywords:Glacier reconstruction, cosmogenic nuclides, geomorphology, Patagonia
Status:Published
Refereed:No
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Fabel, Dr Derek and Geiger, Dr Alessa
Authors: Geiger, A..J., Fabel, D., and Glasser, N.F.
Subjects:G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography
Q Science > QC Physics
Q Science > QD Chemistry
Q Science > QE Geology
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
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