Structure and sedimentology of George VI Ice Shelf, Antarctic Peninsula: implications for ice-sheet dynamics and landform
development
Michael J. Hambrey
Bethan J. Davies
Neil F. Glasser
Tom O. Holt
John L. Smellie
Jonathan L. Carrivick
10.6084/m9.figshare.3453959.v1
https://geolsoc.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Structure_and_sedimentology_of_George_VI_Ice_Shelf_Antarctic_Peninsula_implications_for_ice-sheet_dynamics_and_landform___development/3453959
<p>Collapse of Antarctic ice shelves in response to a warming climate is well documented, but its legacy in terms of depositional
landforms is little known. This paper uses remote-sensing, structural glaciological and sedimentological data to evaluate
the evolution of the <em>c</em>. 25000 km<sup>2</sup> George VI Ice Shelf, SW Antarctic Peninsula. The ice shelf occupies a north–south-trending tectonic rift between Alexander
Island and Palmer Land, and is nourished mainly by ice streams from the latter region. The structure of the ice shelf is dominated
by inherited foliation and fractures, and with velocity data indicates a largely compressive flow regime. The formation of
a moraine complex at the margin of the ice shelf is controlled by debris entrained within foliation and folds. This englacial
debris is of basal origin, and includes both local Mesozoic sedimentary and volcanic lithologies, and exotic crystalline rocks
from Palmer Land. Folding of basal ice to a high level in the source glaciers on Palmer Land is required to bring the debris
to the surface. These results have implications for understanding flow dynamics of ice shelves under compressive flow, and
debris entrainment and moraine formation associated with palaeo-ice shelves.
</p>
2016-06-21 11:48:25
ice shelf
debris
George VI Ice Shelf
Palmer Land
landform development Collapse
understanding flow dynamics
Antarctic ice shelves
SW Antarctic Peninsula
Geology