Larsen Ice Shelf Sediment Core And Oceanographic Data

Sediment core stratigraphy and oceanographic observations support a multi-year project testing the stability of the Larsen B Ice Shelf over the past 10,000 years. The project was a three-year, multi-institutional international effort led by AMD_USAPDC, with data collected through field seasons from approximately 2003 to 2006. It integrates marine geologic work with educational efforts at primarily undergraduate institutions.

Use Cases

• Correlate sediment records using variations in Earth's magnetic field strength to establish a regional stratigraphy.
• Analyze radiocarbon dates from specific organic compounds to reconstruct the timeline of ice shelf fluctuations.
• Model the impact of past ice shelf collapses on oceanographic and biologic environments using sediment trap data.
• Compare snow/ice stratigraphy and ocean floor character observations from areas adjacent to the Larsen C Ice Shelf.

Strengths

• Multi-year project with three planned field seasons enabling repeated measurements.
• International, multi-institutional collaboration combining expertise across disciplines.

Limitations

• Data collection concluded in 2006, limiting analysis of recent, accelerated ice shelf changes.
• Specific sample sizes, row counts, and data formats are unknown from the description.

Provenance

Source

AMD_USAPDC via NASA EarthData.

Collection Method

Fieldwork involving sediment core recovery, sediment trap deployment, and oceanographic/stratigraphic observations from research vessel RVIB L.M. Gould.

Time Range

Project focused on a three-year period with field seasons around 2003-2006; paleoclimate data extends to approximately 10,000 years BP.

Freshness

Last updated in 2009; dataset is historical.

Geography

Larsen Ice Shelf system, Antarctica, specifically Larsen A, B, and C embayments.