Past interaction of ocean circulation and West Antarctic Ice Sheet dynamics in the Amundsen Sea Sector

Abstract

The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is highly sensitive to ocean forcing and is currently experiencing grounding line retreat and ice shelf thinning. Since the response of the ice sheet to a warming world is unknown, it is important to analyze past warmer-than-present periods, e.g. the Pliocene, for comparison with possible future changes. Two drill sites, Site U1532 and Site U1533 of IODP Expedition 379, were linked to a large network of 2D high-resolution seismic reflection data to analyze changes of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet from the latest Miocene to the Pleistocene. During the Pliocene, between 4.2 to 3.2 Ma, a warm period was recognized with a highly dynamic West Antarctic Ice Sheet, correlating with reduced ocean bottom current activity. This period can be described as an overarching warm period with several advance and retreat phases of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet in the Amundsen Sea Sector.