Evidence for a palaeo-subglacial lake on the Antarctic continental shelf

Kuhn, Gerhard; Hillenbrand, Claus-Dieter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0240-7317; Kasten, Sabine; Smith, James A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1333-2544; Nitsche, Frank O.; Frederichs, Thomas; Wiers, Steffen; Ehrmann, Werner; Klages, Johann P.; Mogollón, José M.. 2017 Evidence for a palaeo-subglacial lake on the Antarctic continental shelf. Nature Communications, 8. 10, pp. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15591

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Abstract/Summary

Subglacial lakes are widespread beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet but their control on ice-sheet dynamics and their ability to harbour life remain poorly characterized. Here we present evidence for a palaeo-subglacial lake on the Antarctic continental shelf. A distinct sediment facies recovered from a bedrock basin in Pine Island Bay indicates deposition within a low-energy lake environment. Diffusive-advection modelling demonstrates that low chloride concentrations in the pore water of the corresponding sediments can only be explained by initial deposition of this facies in a freshwater setting. These observations indicate that an active subglacial meltwater network, similar to that observed beneath the extant ice sheet, was also active during the last glacial period. It also provides a new framework for refining the exploration of these unique environments.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15591
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > BAS Programmes 2015 > Palaeo-Environments, Ice Sheets and Climate Change
ISSN:	20411723
Date made live:	26 Jun 2017 12:54 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514261

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