Tundra environments in the Neogene Sirius Group, Antarctica: evidence from the geological record and coupled atmosphere–vegetation models

Francis, J.E.; Haywood, A.M.; Ashworth, A.C.; Valdes, P.J.. 2007 Tundra environments in the Neogene Sirius Group, Antarctica: evidence from the geological record and coupled atmosphere–vegetation models. Journal of the Geological Society, 164 (2). 317-322. 10.1144/0016-76492005-191

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Abstract/Summary

The Neogene Meyer Desert Formation, Sirius Group, at Oliver Bluffs in the Transantarctic Mountains, contains a sequence of glacial deposits formed under a wet-based glacial regime. Within this sequence fluvial deposits have yielded fossil plants that, along with evidence from fossil insects, invertebrates and palaeosols, indicate the existence of tundra conditions at 85°S during the Neogene. Mean annual temperatures of c. –12 °C are estimated, with short summer seasons with temperatures up to +5 °C. The current published date for this formation is Pliocene, although this is hotly debated. Reconstructions produced by the TRIFFID and BIOME 4 vegetation models, utilizing a Pliocene climatology derived from the HadAM3 General Circulation Model (running with prescribed boundary conditions from the US Geological Survey PRISM2 dataset), also predict tundra-type vegetation in Antarctica. The consistency of the model outputs with geological evidence demonstrates that a Pliocene age for the Meyer Desert Formation is consistent with proxy environmental reconstructions and numerical model reconstructions for the mid-Pliocene. If so, the East Antarctic Ice Sheet has behaved in a dynamic manner in the recent geological past.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1144/0016-76492005-191
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Greenhouse to Icehouse. Evolution of the Antarctic Cryosphere and Palaeoenvironment
ISSN:	0016-7649
Additional Keywords:	Palaeoenvironments, Transantarctic Mountains
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences
Date made live:	12 Nov 2007 16:28 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/1176

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1144/0016-76492005-191

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Greenhouse to Icehouse. Evolution of the Antarctic Cryosphere and Palaeoenvironment

ISSN:

0016-7649

Additional Keywords:

Palaeoenvironments, Transantarctic Mountains

NORA Subject Terms:

Earth Sciences