A decade of in situ cosmogenic 14C in Antarctica

Source abstract

Cosmogenic nuclide measurements in glacial deposits extend ourknowledge of glacier chronologies beyond the observational record. Theshort half-life of in situ cosmogenic 14C makes it particularly useful forstudying glacier chronologies, as resulting exposure ages are lesssensitive to nuclide inheritance when compared with more commonlymeasured, long-lived nuclides. An increasing number of laboratoriesusing an automated process to extract carbon from quartz has led to insitu 14C measurements in Antarctic samples at an accelerating rate overthe past decade, shedding light on deglaciation in Antarctica. In situ 14Chas had the greatest impact in the Weddell Sea Embayment, whereinferences on the thickness of ice and timing of deglaciation were limitedby inheritance in other cosmogenic nuclide systems. Future subglacialmeasurements of the nuclide hold much potential as they can providedirect evidence of proposed Holocene thinning and subsequent rethickeningof parts of the Antarctic ice sheets.