The East Antarctic Ice Sheet: The Problem of Palaeoglaciological Reconstruction (Abstract only)

Abstract

Palaeoglaciological studies, including glaciogeomorphological observations and comprehensive studies of the composition of glacial deposits, undertaken by scientists of a number of countries, enable the major stages in the evolution of glaciation of some regions of East Antarctica to be outlined.

In this report, palaeoglaciological reconstructions for certain key territories: Queen Maud Land, Mac. Robertson Land, and Victoria Land are considered. The completeness and reliability of such reconstructions are also discussed.

The region of Prince Charles Mountains (Mac. Robertson Land) turned out to be one of the most significant for palaeoglaciology. In this region, the author has discovered and studied glacial deposits of at least six age stages, their formation having taken place during approximately 20 Ma.

An attempt is made to compare the results of regional studies and to present the evolution of the development of the whole East Antarctic ice sheet in space and time.

Different examples of palaeoglaciological reconstructions of the ice sheet of East Antarctica are presented, the possibilities of different approaches are evaluated practically, and schematic maps of the change in glaciation of East Antarctic regions at different evolutional stages, compiled by the author, are presented for discussion.