A large West Antarctic Ice Sheet explains early Neogene sea-level amplitude

J. W. Marschalek; L. Zurli; F. Talarico; de Flierdt T van; P. Vermeesch; A. Carter; F Beny; V. Bout-Roumazeilles; F. Sangiorgi; S. R. Hemming; L. F. Pérez; F. Colleoni; J. G. Prebble; Peer TE van; M. Perotti; A. E. Shevenell; I Browne; DK Kulhanek; R. Levy; D Harwood; N. B. Sullivan; S. R. Meyers; E. M. Griffith; C. D. Hillenbrand; E. Gasson; M. J. Siegert; B Keisling; K. J. Licht; G. Kuhn; JP Dodd; C. Boshuis; Santis L De; RM McKay; Jeanine Ash; F Beny; IM Browne; Giuseppe Cortese; Santis L De; JP Dodd; Oliver M. Esper; Jenny A. Gales; DM Harwood; Saki Ishino; BA Keisling; S Kim; S Kim; DK Kulhanek; Jan Sverre Laberg; R. Mark Leckie; RM McKay; J Müller; MO Patterson; BW Romans; OE Romero; F. Sangiorgi; O Seki; A. E. Shevenell; SM Singh; de Sousa IM Cordeiro; ST Sugisaki; de Flierdt T van; Peer TE van; W Xiao; Z Xiong

doi:10.1038/s41586-021-04148-0

A large West Antarctic Ice Sheet explains early Neogene sea-level amplitude

J. W. Marschalek^*
, L. Zurli
, F. Talarico
, de Flierdt T van
, P. Vermeesch
, A. Carter
, F Beny
, V. Bout-Roumazeilles
, F. Sangiorgi
, S. R. Hemming
, L. F. Pérez
, F. Colleoni
, J. G. Prebble
, Peer TE van
, M. Perotti
, A. E. Shevenell
, I Browne
, DK Kulhanek
, R. Levy
, D Harwood

N. B. Sullivan, S. R. Meyers, E. M. Griffith, C. D. Hillenbrand, E. Gasson, M. J. Siegert, B Keisling, K. J. Licht, G. Kuhn, JP Dodd, C. Boshuis, Santis L De, RM McKay, Jeanine Ash, F Beny, IM Browne, Giuseppe Cortese, Santis L De, JP Dodd, Oliver M. Esper, Jenny A. Gales, DM Harwood, Saki Ishino, BA Keisling, S Kim, S Kim, DK Kulhanek, Jan Sverre Laberg, R. Mark Leckie, RM McKay, J Müller, MO Patterson, BW Romans, OE Romero, F. Sangiorgi, O Seki, A. E. Shevenell, SM Singh, de Sousa IM Cordeiro, ST Sugisaki, de Flierdt T van, Peer TE van, W Xiao, Z Xiong

^*Corresponding author for this work

Imperial College London
University of Siena
University College London
Birkbeck University of London
Université de Lille
Utrecht University
Columbia University
British Antarctic Survey
Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland
National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics
GNS Science
University of South Florida
Kiel University
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ohio State University
University of Exeter
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Alfred Wegener Institute - Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Rice University
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway
University of Massachusetts

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Abstract

Early to Middle Miocene sea-level oscillations of approximately 40–60 m estimated from far-field records are interpreted to reflect the loss of virtually all East Antarctic ice during peak warmth2. This contrasts with ice-sheet model experiments suggesting most terrestrial ice in East Antarctica was retained even during the warmest intervals of the Middle Miocene. Data and model outputs can be reconciled if a large West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) existed and expanded across most of the outer continental shelf during the Early Miocene, accounting for maximum ice-sheet volumes. Here we provide the earliest geological evidence proving large WAIS expansions occurred during the Early Miocene (~17.72–17.40 Ma). Geochemical and petrographic data show glacimarine sediments recovered at International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Site U1521 in the central Ross Sea derive from West Antarctica, requiring the presence of a WAIS covering most of the Ross Sea continental shelf. Seismic, lithological and palynological data reveal the intermittent proximity of grounded ice to Site U1521. The erosion rate calculated from this sediment package greatly exceeds the long-term mean, implying rapid erosion of West Antarctica. This interval therefore captures a key step in the genesis of a marine-based WAIS and a tipping point in Antarctic ice-sheet evolution.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	450-455
Journal	Nature
Volume	600
Issue number	7889
Early online date	15 Dec 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04148-0
Publication status	Published - 15 Dec 2021

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10.1038/s41586-021-04148-0

Marschaleketal 2021Accepted author manuscript, 0.98 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

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Marschalek, J. W., Zurli, L., Talarico, F., van, D. F. T., Vermeesch, P., Carter, A., Beny, F., Bout-Roumazeilles, V., Sangiorgi, F., Hemming, S. R., Pérez, L. F., Colleoni, F., Prebble, J. G., van, P. TE., Perotti, M., Shevenell, A. E., Browne, I., Kulhanek, DK., Levy, R., ... Xiong, Z. (2021). A large West Antarctic Ice Sheet explains early Neogene sea-level amplitude. Nature, 600(7889), 450-455. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04148-0

@article{5badbcfec5c94c46a16e9608a3c95c98,

title = "A large West Antarctic Ice Sheet explains early Neogene sea-level amplitude",

abstract = "Early to Middle Miocene sea-level oscillations of approximately 40{\textendash}60 m estimated from far-field records are interpreted to reflect the loss of virtually all East Antarctic ice during peak warmth2. This contrasts with ice-sheet model experiments suggesting most terrestrial ice in East Antarctica was retained even during the warmest intervals of the Middle Miocene. Data and model outputs can be reconciled if a large West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) existed and expanded across most of the outer continental shelf during the Early Miocene, accounting for maximum ice-sheet volumes. Here we provide the earliest geological evidence proving large WAIS expansions occurred during the Early Miocene (\textasciitilde{}17.72{\textendash}17.40 Ma). Geochemical and petrographic data show glacimarine sediments recovered at International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Site U1521 in the central Ross Sea derive from West Antarctica, requiring the presence of a WAIS covering most of the Ross Sea continental shelf. Seismic, lithological and palynological data reveal the intermittent proximity of grounded ice to Site U1521. The erosion rate calculated from this sediment package greatly exceeds the long-term mean, implying rapid erosion of West Antarctica. This interval therefore captures a key step in the genesis of a marine-based WAIS and a tipping point in Antarctic ice-sheet evolution.",

author = "Marschalek, \{J. W.\} and L. Zurli and F. Talarico and van, \{de Flierdt T\} and P. Vermeesch and A. Carter and F Beny and V. Bout-Roumazeilles and F. Sangiorgi and Hemming, \{S. R.\} and P{\'e}rez, \{L. F.\} and F. Colleoni and Prebble, \{J. G.\} and van, \{Peer TE\} and M. Perotti and Shevenell, \{A. E.\} and I Browne and DK Kulhanek and R. Levy and D Harwood and Sullivan, \{N. B.\} and Meyers, \{S. R.\} and Griffith, \{E. M.\} and Hillenbrand, \{C. D.\} and E. Gasson and Siegert, \{M. J.\} and B Keisling and Licht, \{K. J.\} and G. Kuhn and JP Dodd and C. Boshuis and De, \{Santis L\} and RM McKay and Jeanine Ash and F Beny and IM Browne and Giuseppe Cortese and De, \{Santis L\} and JP Dodd and Esper, \{Oliver M.\} and Gales, \{Jenny A.\} and DM Harwood and Saki Ishino and BA Keisling and S Kim and S Kim and DK Kulhanek and Laberg, \{Jan Sverre\} and Leckie, \{R. Mark\} and RM McKay and J M{\"u}ller and MO Patterson and BW Romans and OE Romero and F. Sangiorgi and O Seki and Shevenell, \{A. E.\} and SM Singh and Cordeiro, \{de Sousa IM\} and ST Sugisaki and van, \{de Flierdt T\} and van, \{Peer TE\} and W Xiao and Z Xiong",

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month = dec,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1038/s41586-021-04148-0",

language = "English",

volume = "600",

pages = "450--455",

journal = "Nature",

issn = "0028-0836",

publisher = "Nature Research",

number = "7889",

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Marschalek, JW, Zurli, L, Talarico, F, van, DFT, Vermeesch, P, Carter, A, Beny, F, Bout-Roumazeilles, V, Sangiorgi, F, Hemming, SR, Pérez, LF, Colleoni, F, Prebble, JG, van, PTE, Perotti, M, Shevenell, AE, Browne, I, Kulhanek, DK, Levy, R, Harwood, D, Sullivan, NB, Meyers, SR, Griffith, EM, Hillenbrand, CD, Gasson, E, Siegert, MJ, Keisling, B, Licht, KJ, Kuhn, G, Dodd, JP, Boshuis, C, De, SL, McKay, RM, Ash, J, Beny, F, Browne, IM, Cortese, G, De, SL, Dodd, JP, Esper, OM, Gales, JA, Harwood, DM, Ishino, S, Keisling, BA, Kim, S, Kim, S, Kulhanek, DK, Laberg, JS, Leckie, RM, McKay, RM, Müller, J, Patterson, MO, Romans, BW, Romero, OE, Sangiorgi, F, Seki, O, Shevenell, AE, Singh, SM, Cordeiro, DSIM, Sugisaki, ST, van, DFT, van, PTE, Xiao, W & Xiong, Z 2021, 'A large West Antarctic Ice Sheet explains early Neogene sea-level amplitude', Nature, vol. 600, no. 7889, pp. 450-455. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04148-0

TY - JOUR

T1 - A large West Antarctic Ice Sheet explains early Neogene sea-level amplitude

AU - Marschalek, J. W.

AU - Zurli, L.

AU - Talarico, F.

AU - van, de Flierdt T

AU - Vermeesch, P.

AU - Carter, A.

AU - Beny, F

AU - Bout-Roumazeilles, V.

AU - Sangiorgi, F.

AU - Hemming, S. R.

AU - Pérez, L. F.

AU - Colleoni, F.

AU - Prebble, J. G.

AU - van, Peer TE

AU - Perotti, M.

AU - Shevenell, A. E.

AU - Browne, I

AU - Kulhanek, DK

AU - Levy, R.

AU - Harwood, D

AU - Sullivan, N. B.

AU - Meyers, S. R.

AU - Griffith, E. M.

AU - Hillenbrand, C. D.

AU - Gasson, E.

AU - Siegert, M. J.

AU - Keisling, B

AU - Licht, K. J.

AU - Kuhn, G.

AU - Dodd, JP

AU - Boshuis, C.

AU - De, Santis L

AU - McKay, RM

AU - Ash, Jeanine

AU - Beny, F

AU - Browne, IM

AU - Cortese, Giuseppe

AU - De, Santis L

AU - Dodd, JP

AU - Esper, Oliver M.

AU - Gales, Jenny A.

AU - Harwood, DM

AU - Ishino, Saki

AU - Keisling, BA

AU - Kim, S

AU - Kulhanek, DK

AU - Laberg, Jan Sverre

AU - Leckie, R. Mark

AU - McKay, RM

AU - Müller, J

AU - Patterson, MO

AU - Romans, BW

AU - Romero, OE

AU - Sangiorgi, F.

AU - Seki, O

AU - Shevenell, A. E.

AU - Singh, SM

AU - Cordeiro, de Sousa IM

AU - Sugisaki, ST

AU - van, de Flierdt T

AU - van, Peer TE

AU - Xiao, W

AU - Xiong, Z

PY - 2021/12/15

Y1 - 2021/12/15

N2 - Early to Middle Miocene sea-level oscillations of approximately 40–60 m estimated from far-field records are interpreted to reflect the loss of virtually all East Antarctic ice during peak warmth2. This contrasts with ice-sheet model experiments suggesting most terrestrial ice in East Antarctica was retained even during the warmest intervals of the Middle Miocene. Data and model outputs can be reconciled if a large West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) existed and expanded across most of the outer continental shelf during the Early Miocene, accounting for maximum ice-sheet volumes. Here we provide the earliest geological evidence proving large WAIS expansions occurred during the Early Miocene (~17.72–17.40 Ma). Geochemical and petrographic data show glacimarine sediments recovered at International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Site U1521 in the central Ross Sea derive from West Antarctica, requiring the presence of a WAIS covering most of the Ross Sea continental shelf. Seismic, lithological and palynological data reveal the intermittent proximity of grounded ice to Site U1521. The erosion rate calculated from this sediment package greatly exceeds the long-term mean, implying rapid erosion of West Antarctica. This interval therefore captures a key step in the genesis of a marine-based WAIS and a tipping point in Antarctic ice-sheet evolution.

AB - Early to Middle Miocene sea-level oscillations of approximately 40–60 m estimated from far-field records are interpreted to reflect the loss of virtually all East Antarctic ice during peak warmth2. This contrasts with ice-sheet model experiments suggesting most terrestrial ice in East Antarctica was retained even during the warmest intervals of the Middle Miocene. Data and model outputs can be reconciled if a large West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) existed and expanded across most of the outer continental shelf during the Early Miocene, accounting for maximum ice-sheet volumes. Here we provide the earliest geological evidence proving large WAIS expansions occurred during the Early Miocene (~17.72–17.40 Ma). Geochemical and petrographic data show glacimarine sediments recovered at International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Site U1521 in the central Ross Sea derive from West Antarctica, requiring the presence of a WAIS covering most of the Ross Sea continental shelf. Seismic, lithological and palynological data reveal the intermittent proximity of grounded ice to Site U1521. The erosion rate calculated from this sediment package greatly exceeds the long-term mean, implying rapid erosion of West Antarctica. This interval therefore captures a key step in the genesis of a marine-based WAIS and a tipping point in Antarctic ice-sheet evolution.

UR - https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/bms-research/733/

U2 - 10.1038/s41586-021-04148-0

DO - 10.1038/s41586-021-04148-0

M3 - Article

SN - 0028-0836

VL - 600

SP - 450

EP - 455

JO - Nature

JF - Nature

IS - 7889

ER -

A large West Antarctic Ice Sheet explains early Neogene sea-level amplitude

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