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Glaciology
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Dr. Julie Palais
Program Manager
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I-175-M/S
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NSF/OPP Award 02-21394
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Station:
McMurdo Station
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RPSC POC:
Melissa Rider
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Research Site(s):
Cohen Nunatak, Karo Hills, Quartz Hills, Hatcher Bluffs, Caloplaca Hills, Polygon Spur, Strickland Nunatak
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Dates in Antarctica:
Late November to late January
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Late Quaternary history of Reedy Glacier
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Sampling glacial deposits in the Quartz Hills for cosmogenic nuclide dating. Reedy Glacier in background. Photo courtesy of John Stone.
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Deploying Team Members:
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Gordon Bromley
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Howard B. Conway
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Maurice Conway
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Brenda L. Hall
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John O. Stone
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Claire Todd
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Research Objectives:
The stability of the marine West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) remains a significant unresolved problem in predicting future sea-level change. Some recent observations of the ice sheet support a negative mass balance whereas others argue the opposite (see website for citations). Differences between these short-term results may stem, in part, from short-term fluctuations in ice-sheet flow. In comparison, geologic observations provide evidence of behavior over a much longer timescale than glaciological monitoring and remote sensing, and therefore can help to constrain the evolutionary trajectory of the WAIS. Recent geologic mapping, dating and ice-penetrating radar surveys have shown that deglaciation of both the Ross Sea Embayment and coastal Marie Byrd Land continued into the late Holocene, and hint at the possibility that deglaciation and grounding-line retreat are continuing at present. However, previous studies in the Ross Sea Embayment have been confined to only three locations - the southern Scott Coast, Hatherton Glacier, and Roosevelt Island - all of which lie far to the north of the present grounding line position.
This project extends the coverage of glacial-geologic mapping and dating to Reedy Glacier in the southernmost Ross Sea Embayment. The thickness and longitudinal profile of Reedy Glacier are directly linked to the thickness of ice in the Ross Sea. Thus, the history of grounding-line retreat can be investigated by reconstructing the glacier profile through time. During the 2004-05 field season, glacial deposits on nunataks and ice-free areas at the foot and head of Reedy Glacier will be mapped and sampled, sites visited in the 2003-04 season will be re-visited to measure flow velocities, and ice-penetrating radar surveys will be carried out across the glacier.
This work directly addresses key goals of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Initiative, which are to understand the dynamics, recent history and possible future behavior of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
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