Low post-glacial rebound rates in the Weddell Sea due to Late Holocene ice-sheet re-advance

Bradley, Sarah L.; Hindmarsh, Richard C.A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1633-2416; Whitehouse, Pippa L.; Bentley, Michael J.; King, Matt A.. 2015 Low post-glacial rebound rates in the Weddell Sea due to Late Holocene ice-sheet re-advance. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 413. 79-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2014.12.039

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Abstract/Summary

Many ice-sheet reconstructions assume monotonic Holocene retreat for the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, but an increasing number of glaciological observations infer that some portions of the ice sheet may be readvancing, following retreat behind the present-day margin. A readvance in the Weddell Sea region can reconcile two outstanding problems: (i) the present-day widespread occurrence of seemingly stable ice streams grounded on beds that deepen inland; and (ii) the inability of models of glacial isostatic adjustment to match present-day uplift rates. By combining a suite of ice loading histories that include a readvance with a model of glacial isostatic adjustment we report substantial improvements to predictions of present-day uplift rates, including reconciling one problematic observation of land sinking. We suggest retreat behind present grounding lines occurred when the bed was lower, and isostatic recovery has since led to shallowing, ice sheet re-grounding and readvance. The paradoxical existence of grounding lines in apparently unstable configurations on reverse bed slopes may be resolved by invoking the process of unstable advance, in accordance with our load modelling.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2014.12.039
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Ice Sheets
ISSN:	0028-0836
Additional Keywords:	grounding line stability, Antarctic ice sheet, glacial isostatic adjustment, uplift rate, Weddell Sea, deglaciation
Date made live:	19 Jan 2015 12:04 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/503670

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2014.12.039

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Ice Sheets

ISSN:

0028-0836

Additional Keywords:

grounding line stability, Antarctic ice sheet, glacial isostatic adjustment, uplift rate, Weddell Sea, deglaciation

Date made live:

19 Jan 2015 12:04 +0 (UTC)