Late Neogene Antarctic glacial history: Evidence from central Wright Valley

Fossil proxies of near-shore sea surface temperatures and seasonality from the late Neogene Antarctic shelf

“…There is, however, evidence for periods of warmth (4.6 to 3. (Pirrie et al 1997;Smellie et al 2006;N vlt et al 2011), Larsemann Hills: (Webb 1974;Quilty et al 1990;McMinn and Harwood 1995), Vestfold Hills: (Colhoun et al 2010;Quilty et al 2000;Whitehead et al 2001;Whitehead et al 2004;Whitehead et al 2006b), Wright Valley: (Prentice et al 1993), McMurdo Sound: (Eggers 1979;Leckie and Webb 1979) Fig 3 Stratigraphic setting of late Neogene successions that yield shallow marine fossils.…”

“…Recent diatom stratigraphy of Cody et al (2008) suggests an age around 2.2 Ma. An age of 5.5 ± 0.4 Ma was reported from Sr-dating of A. tuftsensis shells (Prentice et al 1993;Jonkers 1998 …”

“…It forms part of the Wright Valley sedimentary deposits (Fig 2) of Victoria Land, and represents an interval of fossiliferous gravel deposition (Prentice et al 1993) containing thick-shelled pectinids described as Austrochlamys tuftsensis (Jonkers 2003 (Prentice et al 1993) suggested an age of 3 to 2.5 Ma (Jonkers 1998). Recent diatom stratigraphy of Cody et al (2008) suggests an age around 2.2 Ma.…”

“…Webb (1972) interpreted the fossiliferous Prospect gravels, of limited lateral extent in the Wright Valley, as a fjord deposit (Jonkers 1998). Prentice et al (1987) inferred water temperatures of less than +5°C using marine diatoms, a much cooler estimate than Webb (1972) who suggested a warmer fjord with temperatures of up to +10°C (Prentice et al 1993). …”

“…Sound: (Eggers 1979;Leckie and Webb 1979), Wright Valley: (Haq et al 1987;Harwood et al 1992;Prentice et al 1993;Cody et al 2008) of PlioMIP experiments and simulations see Haywood et al (2013) …”