Ice‐flow reorganization in West Antarctica 2.5 kyr ago dated using radar‐derived englacial flow velocities

Abstract We date a recent ice‐flow reorganization of an ice divide in the Weddell Sea Sector, West Antarctica, using a novel combination of inverse methods and ice‐penetrating radars. We invert for two‐dimensional ice flow within an ice divide from data collected with a phase‐sensitive ice‐penetrati...

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Main Authors: Jonathan Kingslake, Carlos Martín, Robert J. Arthern, Hugh F. J. Corr, Edward C. King
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-09-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL070278
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author Jonathan Kingslake
Carlos Martín
Robert J. Arthern
Hugh F. J. Corr
Edward C. King
author_facet Jonathan Kingslake
Carlos Martín
Robert J. Arthern
Hugh F. J. Corr
Edward C. King
author_sort Jonathan Kingslake
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We date a recent ice‐flow reorganization of an ice divide in the Weddell Sea Sector, West Antarctica, using a novel combination of inverse methods and ice‐penetrating radars. We invert for two‐dimensional ice flow within an ice divide from data collected with a phase‐sensitive ice‐penetrating radar while accounting for the effect of firn on radar propagation and ice flow. By comparing isochronal layers simulated using radar‐derived flow velocities with internal layers observed with an impulse radar, we show that the divide's internal structure is not in a steady state but underwent a disturbance, potentially implying a regional ice‐flow reorganization, 2.5 (1.8–2.9) kyr B.P. Our data are consistent with slow ice flow in this location before the reorganization and the ice divide subsequently remaining stationary. These findings increase our knowledge of the glacial history of a region that lacks dated constraints on late‐Holocene ice‐sheet retreat and provides a key target for models that reconstruct and predict ice‐sheet behavior.
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series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-9165796f5a824e56b8d9490d514b0f092025-08-20T01:52:04ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072016-09-0143179103911210.1002/2016GL070278Ice‐flow reorganization in West Antarctica 2.5 kyr ago dated using radar‐derived englacial flow velocitiesJonathan Kingslake0Carlos Martín1Robert J. Arthern2Hugh F. J. Corr3Edward C. King4Lamont‐Doherty Earth Observatory Palisades New York USABritish Antarctic Survey Natural Environmental Research Council Cambridge UKBritish Antarctic Survey Natural Environmental Research Council Cambridge UKBritish Antarctic Survey Natural Environmental Research Council Cambridge UKBritish Antarctic Survey Natural Environmental Research Council Cambridge UKAbstract We date a recent ice‐flow reorganization of an ice divide in the Weddell Sea Sector, West Antarctica, using a novel combination of inverse methods and ice‐penetrating radars. We invert for two‐dimensional ice flow within an ice divide from data collected with a phase‐sensitive ice‐penetrating radar while accounting for the effect of firn on radar propagation and ice flow. By comparing isochronal layers simulated using radar‐derived flow velocities with internal layers observed with an impulse radar, we show that the divide's internal structure is not in a steady state but underwent a disturbance, potentially implying a regional ice‐flow reorganization, 2.5 (1.8–2.9) kyr B.P. Our data are consistent with slow ice flow in this location before the reorganization and the ice divide subsequently remaining stationary. These findings increase our knowledge of the glacial history of a region that lacks dated constraints on late‐Holocene ice‐sheet retreat and provides a key target for models that reconstruct and predict ice‐sheet behavior.https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL070278ice sheetsice flowpast ice flowice‐penetrating radarinverse methodsfield observations
spellingShingle Jonathan Kingslake
Carlos Martín
Robert J. Arthern
Hugh F. J. Corr
Edward C. King
Ice‐flow reorganization in West Antarctica 2.5 kyr ago dated using radar‐derived englacial flow velocities
Geophysical Research Letters
ice sheets
ice flow
past ice flow
ice‐penetrating radar
inverse methods
field observations
title Ice‐flow reorganization in West Antarctica 2.5 kyr ago dated using radar‐derived englacial flow velocities
title_full Ice‐flow reorganization in West Antarctica 2.5 kyr ago dated using radar‐derived englacial flow velocities
title_fullStr Ice‐flow reorganization in West Antarctica 2.5 kyr ago dated using radar‐derived englacial flow velocities
title_full_unstemmed Ice‐flow reorganization in West Antarctica 2.5 kyr ago dated using radar‐derived englacial flow velocities
title_short Ice‐flow reorganization in West Antarctica 2.5 kyr ago dated using radar‐derived englacial flow velocities
title_sort ice flow reorganization in west antarctica 2 5 kyr ago dated using radar derived englacial flow velocities
topic ice sheets
ice flow
past ice flow
ice‐penetrating radar
inverse methods
field observations
url https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL070278
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AT robertjarthern iceflowreorganizationinwestantarctica25kyragodatedusingradarderivedenglacialflowvelocities
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