Dear colleagues,
We would like to bring your attention to Topical Session T62 during the
GSA annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, 16-19 October 2005(apologies
for cross postings).
Title: Ice Free versus Cold-Based Ice: Cosmogenic Nuclides, Trimlines,
and Ice Sheet History of Differentially Weathered Landscapes
Number in Call for Papers: T62 Session Type: Oral
Scientific Categories: Quaternary Geology, Geomorphology,
Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography
Sponsor: GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division
Conveners:
Jason P. Briner, [log in to unmask],
Michael R. Kaplan, [log in to unmask]
Session Description: The interpretation of weathering zones and
trimlines in differentially weathered landscapes has been debated for
decades. This session solicits papers that address our current
understanding of ice sheet history in these ubiquitous landscapes.
Rationale: Debates have persisted in the international literature for
decades over the interpretation of 'weathering zones' and erosional
trimlines in high latitude glacial landscapes. Contrasting
interpretations are that highly weathered uplands persisted as nunataks
during the last glaciation or that they were covered by non-erosive,
cold-based ice, and associated trimlines represent englacial thermal
boundaries separating warm- based ice from cold-based ice. These
scenarios have differing implications for ice sheet thickness, overall
ice sheet behavior, and the evolution of glacial landscapes. Such
landscapes are particularly ubiquitous along the glacially dissected
rims of passive continental margins around the high latitude North
Atlantic Ocean, and thus also have relevance for interpreting offshore
records, and in Antarctica. Debates have resulted partly from our
inability to date definitively ice sheet history above and below
trimlines. Cosmogenic radionuclide measurements have revolutionized the
study of these landscapes because they can provide absolute chronologic
information on the exposure (and burial) history of surfaces in
different weathering zones and associated trimlines in many regions. In
some locations, cosmogenic radionuclide measurements have settled
long-standing controversies. The purpose of this session is to take
stock of the current knowledge on the ice sheet history in
differentially weathered landscapes, to synthesize the applications of
cosmogenic radionuclides in these landscapes, and to identify
outstanding questions. This topic will be relevant to a broad array of
Quaternary scientists, including glacial geologists, glaciologists
paleoclimatologists, process geomorphologists, and geochronologists
We would welcome your contributions. Abstract deadline is July 12th
http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2005/sessions/topical.asp
Best regards,
Michael Kaplan and Jason Briner
M. Kaplan
School of GeoSciences
University of Edinburgh
Drummond Street
Edinburgh, EH8 9XP
Scotland, UK
44 (0) 131 650 9140
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