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Orbitally induced oscillations in the East Antarctic ice sheet at the Oligocene/Miocene boundary

Author

Listed:
  • Tim R. Naish

    (Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, PO Box 30368)

  • Ken J. Woolfe

    (School of Earth Sciences, James Cook University)

  • Peter J. Barrett

    (Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600)

  • Gary S. Wilson

    (University of Oxford)

  • Cliff Atkins

    (Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600)

  • Steven M. Bohaty

    (University of Nebraska)

  • Christian J. Bücker

    (Institut für Geowissenschaftliche Gemeinschaftsaufgaben, Stilleweg 2
    RWE-DEA AG)

  • Michele Claps

    (Istituto di Scienze del Mare, Universitá degli Studi di Ancona
    Agip Kazachstan North Caspian Operating Company)

  • Fred J. Davey

    (Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, PO Box 30368)

  • Gavin B. Dunbar

    (School of Earth Sciences, James Cook University
    Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600)

  • Alistair G. Dunn

    (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, PO Box 14901)

  • Chris R. Fielding

    (University of Queensland)

  • Fabio Florindo

    (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia
    School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Southampton Oceanography Centre)

  • Michael J. Hannah

    (Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600)

  • David M. Harwood

    (University of Nebraska)

  • Stuart A. Henrys

    (Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, PO Box 30368)

  • Lawrence A. Krissek

    (The Ohio State University)

  • Mark Lavelle

    (British Antarctic Survey, High Cross)

  • Jaap van der Meer

    (Fysisch Geografisch en Bodemkundig Laboratorium, University of Amsterdam
    University of London)

  • William C. McIntosh

    (New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology)

  • Frank Niessen

    (Alfred-Wegener-Institute)

  • Sandra Passchier

    (The Ohio State University)

  • Ross D. Powell

    (Northern Illinois University)

  • Andrew P. Roberts

    (School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Southampton Oceanography Centre)

  • Leonardo Sagnotti

    (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia)

  • Reed P. Scherer

    (Northern Illinois University)

  • C. Percy Strong

    (Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, PO Box 30368)

  • Franco Talarico

    (Universitá degli Studi di Siena)

  • Kenneth L. Verosub

    (University of California)

  • Giuliana Villa

    (Universitá degli Studi di Parma)

  • David K. Watkins

    (University of Nebraska)

  • Peter-N. Webb

    (The Ohio State University)

  • Thomas Wonik

    (Institut für Geowissenschaftliche Gemeinschaftsaufgaben, Stilleweg 2)

Abstract

Between 34 and 15 million years (Myr) ago, when planetary temperatures were 3–4 °C warmer than at present and atmospheric CO2 concentrations were twice as high as today1, the Antarctic ice sheets may have been unstable2,3,4,5,6,7. Oxygen isotope records from deep-sea sediment cores suggest that during this time fluctuations in global temperatures and high-latitude continental ice volumes were influenced by orbital cycles8,9,10. But it has hitherto not been possible to calibrate the inferred changes in ice volume with direct evidence for oscillations of the Antarctic ice sheets11. Here we present sediment data from shallow marine cores in the western Ross Sea that exhibit well dated cyclic variations, and which link the extent of the East Antarctic ice sheet directly to orbital cycles during the Oligocene/Miocene transition (24.1–23.7 Myr ago). Three rapidly deposited glacimarine sequences are constrained to a period of less than 450 kyr by our age model, suggesting that orbital influences at the frequencies of obliquity (40 kyr) and eccentricity (125 kyr) controlled the oscillations of the ice margin at that time. An erosional hiatus covering 250 kyr provides direct evidence for a major episode of global cooling and ice-sheet expansion about 23.7 Myr ago, which had previously been inferred from oxygen isotope data (Mi1 event5).

Suggested Citation

  • Tim R. Naish & Ken J. Woolfe & Peter J. Barrett & Gary S. Wilson & Cliff Atkins & Steven M. Bohaty & Christian J. Bücker & Michele Claps & Fred J. Davey & Gavin B. Dunbar & Alistair G. Dunn & Chris R., 2001. "Orbitally induced oscillations in the East Antarctic ice sheet at the Oligocene/Miocene boundary," Nature, Nature, vol. 413(6857), pages 719-723, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:413:y:2001:i:6857:d:10.1038_35099534
    DOI: 10.1038/35099534
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    Cited by:

    1. Stewart S. R. Jamieson & Neil Ross & Guy J. G. Paxman & Fiona J. Clubb & Duncan A. Young & Shuai Yan & Jamin Greenbaum & Donald D. Blankenship & Martin J. Siegert, 2023. "An ancient river landscape preserved beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.

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