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60 million years of glaciation in the Transantarctic Mountains

Author

Listed:
  • Iestyn D. Barr

    (Manchester Metropolitan University
    Cryosphere Research at Manchester)

  • Matteo Spagnolo

    (University of Aberdeen)

  • Brice R. Rea

    (University of Aberdeen)

  • Robert G. Bingham

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Rachel P. Oien

    (University of Aberdeen)

  • Kathryn Adamson

    (Manchester Metropolitan University
    Cryosphere Research at Manchester)

  • Jeremy C. Ely

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Donal J. Mullan

    (Queen’s University Belfast)

  • Ramón Pellitero

    (Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED))

  • Matt D. Tomkins

    (Cryosphere Research at Manchester
    University of Manchester)

Abstract

The Antarctic continent reached its current polar location ~83 Ma and became shrouded by ice sheets ~34 Ma, coincident with dramatic global cooling at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary. However, it is not known whether the first Antarctic glaciers formed immediately prior to this or were present significantly earlier. Here we show that mountain glaciers were likely present in the Transantarctic Mountains during the Late Palaeocene (~60–56 Ma) and middle Eocene (~48–40 Ma). Temperate (warm-based) glaciers were prevalent during the Late Eocene (~40–34 Ma) and, in reduced numbers, during the Oligocene (~34–23 Ma), before larger, likely cold-based, ice masses (including ice sheets) dominated. Some temperate mountain glaciers were present during the Miocene Climatic Optimum (~15 Ma), before a widespread switch to cold-based glaciation. Our findings highlight the longevity of glaciation in Antarctica and suggest that glaciers were present even during the Early-Cenozoic greenhouse world.

Suggested Citation

  • Iestyn D. Barr & Matteo Spagnolo & Brice R. Rea & Robert G. Bingham & Rachel P. Oien & Kathryn Adamson & Jeremy C. Ely & Donal J. Mullan & Ramón Pellitero & Matt D. Tomkins, 2022. "60 million years of glaciation in the Transantarctic Mountains," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-33310-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33310-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stephen Barker & Paula Diz & Maryline J. Vautravers & Jennifer Pike & Gregor Knorr & Ian R. Hall & Wallace S. Broecker, 2009. "Interhemispheric Atlantic seesaw response during the last deglaciation," Nature, Nature, vol. 457(7233), pages 1097-1102, February.
    2. Robert M. DeConto & David Pollard, 2003. "Rapid Cenozoic glaciation of Antarctica induced by declining atmospheric CO2," Nature, Nature, vol. 421(6920), pages 245-249, January.
    3. Sun Bo & Martin J. Siegert & Simon M. Mudd & David Sugden & Shuji Fujita & Cui Xiangbin & Jiang Yunyun & Tang Xueyuan & Li Yuansheng, 2009. "The Gamburtsev mountains and the origin and early evolution of the Antarctic Ice Sheet," Nature, Nature, vol. 459(7247), pages 690-693, June.
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    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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