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Evidence for the continued existence of Abraxas Lake, Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica during the Last Glacial Maximum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 February 2009

John A.E. Gibson ,
Kristina S. Paterson ,
Camille A. White  and
Kerrie M. Swadling
John A.E. Gibson*
Affiliation:
Marine Research Laboratories, Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 49, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 77, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 5, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
Kristina S. Paterson
Affiliation:
Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 77, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
Camille A. White
Affiliation:
School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 5, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
Kerrie M. Swadling
Affiliation:
Marine Research Laboratories, Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 49, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 5, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
*
*Address for correspondence: Marine Research Laboratories, Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 49, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia[email protected]
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Abstract

Evidence is provided from a sediment core from saline Abraxas Lake, Vestfold Hills, that indicates that the lake existed through the Last Glacial Maximum. It can therefore be concluded that at least part of the Vestfold Hills also remained ice-free through the Last Glacial Maximum, or at most was covered by a thin, non-erosive cold-based ice sheet. The evidence for the continued existence of Abraxas Lake includes a 14C date that significantly predates the Last Glacial Maximum (though this cannot be considered direct proof of the existence of the lake prior to the Last Glacial Maximum); the presence of saline porewater throughout the core, including in compacted sediments deposited during the glacial period, which implies that the lake obtained its salt prior to any Holocene marine highstand; and the occurrence of marine-derived fauna from the onset of significant biological activity late in the Pleistocene. The occurrence of ice-free land in the Vestfold Hills and similar oases suggests that the margin of the polar ice cap did not reach far beyond its current position at the Last Glacial Maximum, at least in regions now occupied by these oases.

Keywords

Bunger HillsglaciolacustrineLarsemann Hillspolar ice capVestfold Hills
Type
Earth Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , June 2009 , pp. 269 - 278
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2009

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