Empirical Ice Thickness Constraints from the Cerro Fitz Roy Massif, Southern Patagonia, Argentina

Geiger, A.J. , Fabel, D. and Glasser, N.F. (2014) Empirical Ice Thickness Constraints from the Cerro Fitz Roy Massif, Southern Patagonia, Argentina. GSA Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 19-22 Oct 2014.

Abstract

Southern Patagonia 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 paleo-behaviour. In order to unravel the nature of the SWW fluctuations over the last glacial cycle, a tighter grid of palaeo-proxy studies in the region is required. The work presented here is based on three mountain valleys in close proximity to the Fitz Roy massive (49°S, 72°W), which is located just east of the southern Patagonian Ice Field. At this site the Patagonian cordillera provides a topographic barrier to the SWW, hence the dominant limiting factor for glacier expansion on the lee side is precipitation. Palaeo-ice surface, thickness and thinning rates spanning MIS3 to Termination I are presented based on 18 Be-10 exposure ages along three vertical transects over ~700m of relief. The results indicate a maximum ice thickness over MIS3 with progressive ice-lowering over MIS2 and small scale thickening at the end of the globally defined LGM. The palaeo-climatic implications will be discussed particularly with focus on SWW positioning and behaviour.

• Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item
• Keywords: Palaeo-glaciology, cosmogenic nuclides, geochronology, geomorphology, palaeoclimatology, 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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