Measurements of Past Ice Sheet Elevations in Interior West Antarctica

• DOI: 10.1126/science.286.5438.276
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:42:20Z
• Authors: Robert P. Ackert; David J. Barclay; Harold W. Borns; Parker E. Calkin; Mark D. Kurz; James L. Fastook; Eric J. Steig
• Keywords: Antarctic ice sheet; Meltwater; Ice-sheet model

A lateral moraine band on Mount Waesche, a volcanic nunatak in Marie Byrd Land, provides estimates of past ice sheet surface elevations West Antarctica. Helium-3 and chlorine-36 exposure ages indicate that the proximal part moraine, up to 45 meters above present surface, was deposited about 10,000 years ago, substantially later than maximum extent Ross Embayment. The upper distal may record multiple earlier high stands. nonequilibrium model predicts delay several thousand levels at Waesche relative Sea. glacial geologic evidence, coupled with model, indicates contribution Sea sector Antarctic Ice Sheet Holocene sea level rise only 3 meters. These results eliminate as principle source large meltwater pulse during early Holocene.