Carracedo, A., Rodes, A. , Smellie, J.L. and Stuart, F.M. (2019) Episodic erosion in West Antarctica inferred from cosmogenic 3He and 10Be in olivine from Mount Hampton. Geomorphology, 327, pp. 438-445. (doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2018.11.019)
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Abstract
The polar climate of Antarctica results in the lowest erosion rates on Earth. The low long-term erosion history of high elevation mountain tops that are exposed above the ice preserve a record of climate change that can be accessed using cosmogenic nuclides. However, unravelling the complexity of the long-term denudation histories of Antarctic summits is frequently hampered by intermittent ice cover. The aim of this work is to identify denudation rate changes in a surface that has been continuously exposed since the middle Miocene. We have measured stable (3He) and radioactive (10Be) cosmogenic nuclides in olivine from lherzolite xenoliths from the summit of the Mount Hampton shield volcano within the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. The peak (3200 m) has never been covered by the current ice sheet and local ice caps, consequently the data record the subaerial erosion history of a mountain top within the Antarctic interior. The 10Be concentrations in the olivines yield minimum exposure ages (33 to 501 ka) that are significantly younger than those derived from the cosmogenic 3He (90 to 1101 ka). The data reveal a complex exposure history that provide an integrated long-term erosion rate of between 0.2 and 0.7 m/My that is most likely caused by mechanical weathering. Inverse modelling shows that the data are readily explained by episodic erosion, consisting of one to five erosion pulses that may record major regional climatic changes.
| Item Type: | Articles |
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| Additional Information: | The PhD of AC was supported by NERC (NE/I528118/1) and SUERC. |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Rodes, Dr Angel and Carracedo, Dr Ana and Stuart, Professor Fin |
| Authors: | Carracedo, A., Rodes, A., Smellie, J.L., and Stuart, F.M. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre |
| Journal Name: | Geomorphology |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| ISSN: | 0169-555X |
| ISSN (Online): | 0169-555X |
| Published Online: | 22 November 2018 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2018 Elsevier |
| First Published: | First published in Geomorphology 327:438-445 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher |
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