TY - JOUR
T1 - Glacial morphology and sediment formation in the Mertz Trough, East Antarctica
AU - McMullen, Katherine
AU - Domack, Eugene
AU - Leventer, Amy
AU - Olson, Caroline
AU - Dunbar, Robert
AU - Brachfeld, Stefanie
PY - 2006/2/9
Y1 - 2006/2/9
N2 - The Nathaniel B. Palmer 01-01 cruise produced a SeaBeam map showing unprecedented detail of the bathymetry in the Mertz Trough of East Antarctica. In addition, seismic reflection surveys and sediment core collection were completed in the region. The morphology of the Mertz Trough is combined with core data to interpret the sequence of events that occurred in this area since the Last Glacial Maximum. These complementary data indicate that an ice sheet once covered the Mertz Trough, which deposited diamicton and formed mega-scale glacial lineations during glacial maximal conditions and grounding-line wedges during recession. An erosional feature caused by subglacial meltwater breaching at least one of the grounding-line deposits is also recognized, along with a fan of sediment deposited seaward of the breach. Sediment cores from the Mertz Trough consist of two distinct units, the diamicton deposited subglacially and a diatom mud and ooze, deposited after the ice retreated. The latter unit has been preferentially deposited in deeper areas of the trough as a hemipelagic drape and shows that a change in the nature of the diatom unit occurred about 3300 14C yr BP.
AB - The Nathaniel B. Palmer 01-01 cruise produced a SeaBeam map showing unprecedented detail of the bathymetry in the Mertz Trough of East Antarctica. In addition, seismic reflection surveys and sediment core collection were completed in the region. The morphology of the Mertz Trough is combined with core data to interpret the sequence of events that occurred in this area since the Last Glacial Maximum. These complementary data indicate that an ice sheet once covered the Mertz Trough, which deposited diamicton and formed mega-scale glacial lineations during glacial maximal conditions and grounding-line wedges during recession. An erosional feature caused by subglacial meltwater breaching at least one of the grounding-line deposits is also recognized, along with a fan of sediment deposited seaward of the breach. Sediment cores from the Mertz Trough consist of two distinct units, the diamicton deposited subglacially and a diatom mud and ooze, deposited after the ice retreated. The latter unit has been preferentially deposited in deeper areas of the trough as a hemipelagic drape and shows that a change in the nature of the diatom unit occurred about 3300 14C yr BP.
KW - Antarctica
KW - Bathymetry
KW - Deglaciation
KW - Glacial geology
KW - Glaciomarine sedimentation
KW - Ice streams
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=31144433680&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.palaeo.2005.08.004
DO - 10.1016/j.palaeo.2005.08.004
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:31144433680
SN - 0031-0182
VL - 231
SP - 169
EP - 180
JO - Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
JF - Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
IS - 1-2
ER -