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Timing of the Last Glacial Maximum from observed sea-level minima

Author

Listed:
  • Yusuke Yokoyama

    (Research School of Earth Sciences
    University of California
    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

  • Kurt Lambeck

    (Research School of Earth Sciences)

  • Patrick De Deckker

    (Department of Geology)

  • Paul Johnston

    (Research School of Earth Sciences)

  • L. Keith Fifield

    (The Australian National University)

Abstract

During the Last Glacial Maximum, ice sheets covered large areas in northern latitudes and global temperatures were significantly lower than today. But few direct estimates exist of the volume of the ice sheets, or the timing and rates of change during their advance and retreat1,2. Here we analyse four distinct sediment facies in the shallow, tectonically stable Bonaparte Gulf, Australia—each of which is characteristic of a distinct range in sea level—to estimate the maximum volume of land-based ice during the last glaciation and the timing of the initial melting phase. We use faunal assemblages and preservation status of the sediments to distinguish open marine, shallow marine, marginal marine and brackish conditions, and estimate the timing and the mass of the ice sheets using radiocarbon dating and glacio-hydro-isostatic modelling. Our results indicate that from at least 22,000 to 19,000 (calendar) years before present, land-based ice volume was at its maximum, exceeding today's grounded ice sheets by 52.5 × 106 km3. A rapid decrease in ice volume by about 10% within a few hundred years terminated the Last Glacial Maximum at 19,000 ± 250 years.

Suggested Citation

  • Yusuke Yokoyama & Kurt Lambeck & Patrick De Deckker & Paul Johnston & L. Keith Fifield, 2000. "Timing of the Last Glacial Maximum from observed sea-level minima," Nature, Nature, vol. 406(6797), pages 713-716, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:406:y:2000:i:6797:d:10.1038_35021035
    DOI: 10.1038/35021035
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    Cited by:

    1. Evan J. Gowan & Xu Zhang & Sara Khosravi & Alessio Rovere & Paolo Stocchi & Anna L. C. Hughes & Richard Gyllencreutz & Jan Mangerud & John-Inge Svendsen & Gerrit Lohmann, 2022. "Reply to: Towards solving the missing ice problem and the importance of rigorous model data comparisons," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-5, December.
    2. Marie-Noëlle WOILLEZ & Gaël Giraud & Antoine GODIN, 2019. "Economic impacts of a glacial period: a thought experiment," Working Paper 3a96628b-b59b-411a-bc45-d, Agence française de développement.
    3. Yusuke Yokoyama & Kurt Lambeck & Patrick Deckker & Tezer M. Esat & Jody M. Webster & Masao Nakada, 2022. "Towards solving the missing ice problem and the importance of rigorous model data comparisons," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-4, December.
    4. A. O. Sawakuchi & E. D. Schultz & F. N. Pupim & D. J. Bertassoli & D. F. Souza & D. F. Cunha & C. E. Mazoca & M. P. Ferreira & C. H. Grohmann & I. D. Wahnfried & C. M. Chiessi & F. W. Cruz & R. P. Alm, 2022. "Rainfall and sea level drove the expansion of seasonally flooded habitats and associated bird populations across Amazonia," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Praveen B. Gawali & B. V. Lakshmi & K. Deenadayalan, 2019. "Climate Change and Monsoon: Looking Into Its Antecedents," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(1), pages 21582440188, January.

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