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"The Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) is responding sensitively to climate change and its meltwater has the potential to influence global sea level. Recently, large changes in the GrIS have occurred including increased velocities of outlet glaciers and melt over ~97% of the ice sheet. One means to understand modern and help predict future changes in the GrIS is to examine how it responded to past climate conditions. In this dissertation I provide a longer-term perspective of changes in the GrIS as well as in smaller, independent glaciers near the ice sheet margins (i.e., "local" glaciers). My research documents the past extents of the GrIS in central East and southern West Greenland during the Holocene Epoch (11,600 yrs ago-present) and provides evidence for climate conditions along the ice sheet margin during late glacial time (~17,500-11,600 yrs ago) and the Holocene Epoch. I use geomorphic mapping, surface exposure dating and lake sediment analyses to demonstrate that the GrIS and local glaciers in central East Greenland were receding during the Younger Dryas cold event (~12,900-11,600 yrs ago) and deposited the Milne Land stade moraines at the end of the Younger Dryas. I hypothesize that these ice marginal fluctuations were primarily influenced by air or ocean surface temperatures. I document the Holocene fluctuations of a local glacier that completely disappeared indicating peak warm conditions between ~9.3 and 6.0 cal kyr BP. The formation of this glacier at 2.6 cal kyr BP and its persistence from ~1.9 cal kyr BP-present suggests cold conditions during late Holocene time. I also use geomorphic mapping and surface exposure dating to document the extents of the GrIS in southern West Greenland, near Kangerlussuaq. I show that the Keglen, Ørkendalen and Historical moraines were deposited at 7.3 ka, 6.3 ka, and by ~AD 1950, respectively. These data indicate that the GrIS was as small as or smaller than at present during much of middle to late Holocene time. Finally, I synthesize my results and discuss possible causes of GrIS marginal changes in central East and southern West Greenland including changes in air and ocean temperatures and changes in sea level."
Due to the effect of Arctic Amplification the Arctic is currently warming at least twice as fast as the rest of the planet. Seasonal sea-ice extent has been alarmingly declining in the past decade. Glaciers and ice caps along the Greenland coast and in the Canadian Arctic have been losing mass on an accelerated rate during the past century. As the global climate system is a complex system connecting different regions via atmospheric transport, changes in Arctic climate patterns are affecting the climate and weather conditions in the lower latitudes. The Greenland Ice Sheet as well as glaciers and ice caps in the Canadian Arctic are the largest freshwater storages on the northern hemisphere and expected to be among the highest contributors to global sea level rise. Freshwater input through meltwater discharge is not only affecting sea level rise but further influencing deep water formation in the Labrador Sea and the subpolar North Atlantic and hence global ocean circulation and climate patterns. To be able to sufficiently predict future developments of the Greenland Ice Sheet with respect to mass loss and resulting impacts on the global climate, data from past climate and Greenland Ice Sheet extents are crucially important. The Holocene spanning the last period of the deglaciation after the Last Glacial Maximum culminating in the Holocene Thermal Maximum when atmospheric temperatures were warmer and glacier and ice-sheet extent smaller than today represents the closest analogue to current atmospheric warming and Greenland Ice Sheet mass loss. The wide west Greenland shelf of Baffin Bay and Labrador Sea hosts thick marine sediments archiving around ten thousand years of this past climate and ice-sheet history. Siliciclastic detrital material discharged into Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea via meltwater and erosion can be separated from those sedimentary archives and traced back to its source region. Radiogenic isotopes (Sr, Nd, Pb) label the source regions of those sediments by fingerprinting the isotopic composition of the prevailing bedrock. Hence, they can be used as reliable provenance tracers. Retreating land-ice masses expose bedrock that before was not subject to erosion, influencing the isotopic signatures delivered into the surrounding ocean. Based on this theory, radiogenic isotopes can record changes in siliciclastic detrital sediment provenance and hence, indirectly trace ice-sheet dynamics. The overall aim of this thesis work is to reconstruct changes in detrital sediment provenance along the west Greenland shelf to gain new insights into Holocene Greenland Ice Sheet dynamics and ocean current-induced sediment transport. Sedimentary archives from three main research areas (eastern Labrador Sea, northeastern Baffin Bay, and Kane Basin, central Nares Strait) record obvious shifts in sediment provenance throughout the Holocene. Those shifts coincide with major regional climatic changes in the research area. Generally, all records reveal the local bedrock as the main source region of detrital material and distal-sourced material transported along the coast via the West Greenland Current as a secondary source. Although the proportion of distal sourced material appears to be small, changes in West Greenland Current strength have been recorded in the isotopic composition. In southwestern Greenland and the Labrador Sea radiogenic isotope records reveal a shift towards a higher proportion of the local Archean Block in the late Holocene caused by Neoglacial ice advance and a reduction in West Greenland Current speed delivering less material from southern most Greenland. Farther north in the Upernavik region, midwest Greenland coast, the isotopic composition marks a change with the transition from early to mid Holocene caused by increased West Greenland Current strength and the opening of Vaigat Strait which enabled erosion and transport of freshly exposed basalts from the Disko Bay area due to ice-sheet retreat. This basalt input is, however, not transported all the way to northernmost Melville Bay (northern Baffin Bay) where the detrital sediment composition is clearly dominated by contribution of the local Committee-Melville Belt without any significant provenance changes throughout the Holocene. Farthest north, the sedimentary record from Kane Basin records provenance shifts that confirm the opening of Nares Strait around 8.3 ka BP. This event is followed by an increased delivery of carbonate-rich detrital sediments from northern Ellesmere Island due to the newly established gateway of Arctic Ocean water transporting sediments from further north to the core location. Additionally determined mineralogical composition of the sedimentary records along the west Greenland coast supports the interpretation drawn from the radiogenic isotopic composition. Furthermore, it points out the additional value of radiogenic isotopes through variations only visible in isotopic composition but not in the mineralogical composition. Further comparison to other studies from the region based on different tracers confirms the reliability and sufficient application of radiogenic isotopes in provenance studies as well as the advantage of multi-proxy approaches in paleoclimatological studies. Overall, this study highlights the advantages and reliability of radiogenic isotopes in provenance studies with regards to reconstructions of ice-sheet dynamics. The combination of the three isotopic systems (Sr, Nd, Pb) enables source region determination with a higher probability compensating for overlapping signatures within individual isotopic systems. The transect of sedimentary records along the west Greenland coast identifies clearly distinguishable isotopic ranges for the different Greenland bedrock terrains, qualifying this approach for further high-resolution investigation in past Greenland Ice Sheet development.
The book presents an up-to-date, detailed overview of the Quaternary glaciations all over the world, not only with regard to stratigraphy but also with regard to major glacial landforms and the extent of the respective ice sheets. The locations of key sites are included. The information is presented in digital, uniformly prepared maps which can be used in a Geographical Information System (GIS) such as ArcView or ArcGIS. The accompanying text supplies the information on how the data were obtained (geomorphology, geological mapping, air photograph evaluation, satellite imagery), how the features were dated (14C, TL, relative stratigraphy) and how reliable they are supposed to be. All references to the underlying basic publications are included. Where controversial interpretations are possible e.g. in Siberia or Tibet, this is pointed out. As a result, the information on Quaternary glaciations worldwide will be much improved and supplied in a uniform digital format. The information on the glacial limits is compiled in digital form by the coordinators of the project, and is available for download at: http://booksite.elsevier.com/9780444534477/ Completely updated detailed coverage of worldwide Quaternary glaciations Information in digital, uniformly prepared maps which can be used in a GIS such as ArcView or ArcGis Step-by-step guideline how to open and use ArcGis files Possibility to convert the shapefiles into GoogleEarth kmz-files Availability of chronological controls
The changing focus and approach of geomorphic research suggests that the time is opportune for a summary of the state of discipline. The number of peer-reviewed papers published in geomorphic journals has grown steadily for more than two decades and, more importantly, the diversity of authors with respect to geographic location and disciplinary background (geography, geology, ecology, civil engineering, computer science, geographic information science, and others) has expanded dramatically. As more good minds are drawn to geomorphology, and the breadth of the peer-reviewed literature grows, an effective summary of contemporary geomorphic knowledge becomes increasingly difficult. The fourteen volumes of this Treatise on Geomorphology will provide an important reference for users from undergraduate students looking for term paper topics, to graduate students starting a literature review for their thesis work, and professionals seeking a concise summary of a particular topic. Information on the historical development of diverse topics within geomorphology provides context for ongoing research; discussion of research strategies, equipment, and field methods, laboratory experiments, and numerical simulations reflect the multiple approaches to understanding Earth’s surfaces; and summaries of outstanding research questions highlight future challenges and suggest productive new avenues for research. Our future ability to adapt to geomorphic changes in the critical zone very much hinges upon how well landform scientists comprehend the dynamics of Earth’s diverse surfaces. This Treatise on Geomorphology provides a useful synthesis of the state of the discipline, as well as highlighting productive research directions, that Educators and students/researchers will find useful. Geomorphology has advanced greatly in the last 10 years to become a very interdisciplinary field. Undergraduate students looking for term paper topics, to graduate students starting a literature review for their thesis work, and professionals seeking a concise summary of a particular topic will find the answers they need in this broad reference work which has been designed and written to accommodate their diverse backgrounds and levels of understanding Editor-in-Chief, Prof. J. F. Shroder of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, is past president of the QG&G section of the Geological Society of America and present Trustee of the GSA Foundation, while being well respected in the geomorphology research community and having won numerous awards in the field. A host of noted international geomorphologists have contributed state-of-the-art chapters to the work. Readers can be guaranteed that every chapter in this extensive work has been critically reviewed for consistency and accuracy by the World expert Volume Editors and by the Editor-in-Chief himself No other reference work exists in the area of Geomorphology that offers the breadth and depth of information contained in this 14-volume masterpiece. From the foundations and history of geomorphology through to geomorphological innovations and computer modelling, and the past and future states of landform science, no "stone" has been left unturned!
European Glacial Landscapes: The Holocene presents the current state of knowledge on glacial landscapes of Europe and nearby areas over the Holocene to deduce the influence of atmospheric and oceanic currents and the insolation forcing variability and volcanic activity on Holocene paleoclimates, the existence of asynchronies in the timing of occurrence of glacier expansion and shrinkage during the Holocene, time lags between the identification of oceanic and atmospheric changes and those occurring in glacial extension during the Holocene, the role of Holocene glaciers on the climate of Europe, and on sea level variability, and the delimitation of landscapes that need special protection. Students, academics and researchers in Geography, Geology, Environmental Sciences, Physics and Earth Science departments will find this book provides novel findings of all the major European Regions in a single publication, with updated information about Holocene glacial geomorphology and paleo-climatology and clear figures that model the landscapes covered. Provides a synthesis and summary of glacial processes in Europe over the Holocene period Features research from experts in palaeo-climatology, palaeo-oceanography and palaeo-glaciology Includes access to a companion website with an interactive map, photos of glacial features, and geospatial data related to European Glacial Landscapes
The earth’s cryosphere, which includes snow, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, ice shelves, sea ice, river and lake ice, and permafrost, contains about 75% of the earth’s fresh water. It exists at almost all latitudes, from the tropics to the poles, and plays a vital role in controlling the global climate system. It also provides direct visible evidence of the effect of climate change, and, therefore, requires proper understanding of its complex dynamics. This encyclopedia mainly focuses on the various aspects of snow, ice and glaciers, but also covers other cryospheric branches, and provides up-to-date information and basic concepts on relevant topics. It includes alphabetically arranged and professionally written, comprehensive and authoritative academic articles by well-known international experts in individual fields. The encyclopedia contains a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from the atmospheric processes responsible for snow formation; transformation of snow to ice and changes in their properties; classification of ice and glaciers and their worldwide distribution; glaciation and ice ages; glacier dynamics; glacier surface and subsurface characteristics; geomorphic processes and landscape formation; hydrology and sedimentary systems; permafrost degradation; hazards caused by cryospheric changes; and trends of glacier retreat on the global scale along with the impact of climate change. This book can serve as a source of reference at the undergraduate and graduate level and help to better understand snow, ice and glaciers. It will also be an indispensable tool containing specialized literature for geologists, geographers, climatologists, hydrologists, and water resources engineers; as well as for those who are engaged in the practice of agricultural and civil engineering, earth sciences, environmental sciences and engineering, ecosystem management, and other relevant subjects.
This authoritative new text provides a thorough, updated account of glaciers and ice sheets as monitors and indicators of environmental change. It examines the record of environmental change within glaciers and ice sheets, and that of past environments left by retreating glaciers. These themes are examined within the context of environmental change in general and global climate change in particular. Methods of using palaeoenvironmental records are assessed and the implications for future environmental change are discussed. Evidence from glacier ice left in the landscape or within the geological record, provides one of the most important sources of information on environmental change. 'Glaciers and Environmental Change' is a comprehensive account of glaciers andice sheets as monitors and indictaors of environmental change. Based on the latest research, this book consolidates a diverse range of data and explains their applications. it also assesses methods of using palaeoenvironmental records. This authoritative new text examines not only the records of environmental change within glaciers but also that of past environments left by retreating glaciers. These themes are examined within the context of contemporary debates in environmental change and the volume also seeks to draw conclusions concernign past, present and future climatic change in relation to glaciers.
It is uncertain as to how the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) will respond to future climate changes. One means of assessing the sensitivity of the GrIS to projected climate conditions is to determine its response to past conditions. I reconstructed late glacial and Holocene (~15 ka-present) GrIS extents in the Nunatarssuaq, northwestern Greenland. I applied geomorphic mapping, 10Be surface exposure dating and 14C dating of subfossil plants to determine a chronology of past GrIS extents. I also analyzed sediment cores from a glacially fed lake. 10Be ages of boulders and bedrock exposed during deglaciation from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; ~26-19.5 ka) are apparently old due to 10Be inherited from prior periods of exposure. The youngest 10Be age (~15 ka) may also contain inherited 10Be but approximates the time of deglaciation. Subfossil plants transported to the GrIS margin on shear planes date to ~4.6 cal ka BP and indicate a less extensive GrIS during middle Holocene time. Geomorphic mapping documents higher levels of Nordsø, a glacial lake dammed by a more extensive GrIS margin. I constrain the age of this GrIS extent to ~3-2 ka using 14C ages of in situ subfossil plants on nunataks and 10Be ages of boulders on the drift deposited during the advance. A fresh drift occurs ~30-50 m beyond the present GrIS margin. 10Be ages of this fresh drift range from 2.2 to 0.5 ka. I interpret the youngest 10Be age (~0.5 ka) as the time the drift was exposed. 14C ages of in situ subfossil plants indicate that the GrIS was at or behind its present margin at AD ~1662-1897. I compare my record of GrIS extents to other glacial fluctuations and climate records. I find that the GrIS margin in Nunatarssuaq fluctuated at similar times as local ice masses and other GrIS margins. The middle Holocene GrIS recession occurred during relatively warm conditions registered by regional climate records and the late Holocene GrIS advances occurred during cooler conditions. I also document asynchronous GrIS margin fluctuations in Nunatarssuaq. These require further investigation to determine whether they were influenced by climate conditions or ice dynamics.
Comparison of past ice sheet margin and alpine glacier reconstructions to paleoclimate records can offer insight into the dominant forcing mechanisms that determine glacial response to changes in climate. Previous research on a major ice stream in central West Greenland reveals that the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) responded to abrupt centennial-scale cold periods at ~9. 3 and ~8. 2 ka. The aim of this thesis is to determine whether or not alpine glaciers and a land-terminating ice sheet margin on the peninsula of Nuussuaq in central West Greenland also responded to abrupt climate changes in the early Holocene. To this end, I reconstructed ice sheet and alpine glacier histories on Nuussuaq using cosmogenic 10Be surface exposure dating (herein 10Be dating) and lake sediment analysis. Neither the ice margin nor alpine glacier chronologies indicate a response to abrupt climate change at 9. 3 ka or 8. 2 ka. I found that the Drygalski Moraines are early Holocene in age, with mean moraine ages of 8. 6 ℗ł 0. 4 ka (n=2), 8. 5 ℗ł 0. 2 ka (n=3), and 7. 6 ℗ł 0. 1 ka (n=2) from outer to inner. The moraine chronology, combined with radiocarbon dated lake sediment stratigraphy from an adjacent proglacial lake, reveal that the ice margin remained within about one kilometer of its present position from ~9. 9 to 5. 4 ka. This evidence for ice sheet stability during the first half of the Holocene, followed by minimum ice extent between ~5. 4 and 0. 6 ka, contrasts with many records of early Holocene warmth during the Holocene maximum of Northern Hemisphere summer insolation. This period of ice margin stability may relate to adjacent ocean temperatures, which did not increase until the middle Holocene. A 10Be chronology of moraines deposited by a nearby alpine glacier reveals glacier stability at 10. 5 ℗ł 0. 3 ka, during the Preboreal period. Moraine deposition at this time is potentially due to increased moisture availability as the GrIS retreated and sea ice declined. The alpine glacier chronology also fits well within an emerging pattern of alpine glacier advance during the Preboreal period on East and West Greenland. The results presented in this thesis suggest that GrIS and alpine glacier margin response to changes in climate is complex, and that detailed chronologies from moraines on Greenland can shed light on the intricate processes that link glaciers and climate.
Describes excursion to Greenland in 1894 with Dr. F.A. Cook, with observations on land and sea ice, peoples, plants and animals. Discusses Pleistocene glaciation and its causes. (AB 19714).