Abstract
A reconstruction of deglaciation and associated sea-level changes on northern James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula, based on lithostratigraphical and geomorphological studies, shows that the initial deglaciation of presently ice-free areas occurred slightly before 7400 14C yr BP. Sea-level in connection with the deglaciation was around 30 m a.s.l. A glacier readvance in Brandy Bay, of at least 7 km, with the initial 3 km over land, reached a position off the present coast at ca. 4600 yr BP. The culmination of the advance was of short duration, and by 4300 yr BP the coastal lowlands again were ice-free. A distinct marine level at 16-18 m a.s.l. was contemporaneous with or slightly post-dates the Brandy Bay advance, thus indicating the relative sea-level around 4600-4500 yr BP. Our results from James Ross Island confirm that over large areas in this part of Antarctica the last deglaciation occurred late.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 259-273 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Journal of Quaternary Science |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1997 |
Other keywords
- Antarctica
- Glaciation
- James Ross Island
- Palaeoclimatology
- Quaternary geology
- Sea-levels