Session Details

Mass balance observations show the GIS is undergoing rapid changes at low elevations, with flow acceleration and enhanced calving linked to both changing air and ocean temperatures. These findings have improved our understanding of the physical mechanisms behind ice- sheet dynamics and increased concern that the drawdown of interior ice and release of meltwater into the North Atlantic will influence future global sea- level rise. Unfortunately, however, our current sub-decadal record of glacier change provides no firm basis to make secure (decadal to century) predictions of ice sheet/stream response to climate forcing. As a consequence, recent research has focussed on developing longer-term perspectives on ice sheet and ice stream behaviour in order to improve our knowledge of both the behaviour, and forcing mechanisms, that influenced ice sheet dynamics prior to and during the LGM and throughout the Holocene. Of particular interest is the behaviour of the ice sheet during rapidly warming periods such as the LGM/Holocene transition, Holocene Climatic Optimum and Medieval Warm Period, which provide context for and insight into present changes in the Greenland cryosphere.
This session will bring together those studying modern glacier behaviour and those reconstructing the past behaviour of the ice sheet, and particularly focus on geomorphological, sedimentological and geochronological evidence that provides new insights, both offshore and onshore, into long term GIS behaviour. It is particularly timely given the convergence of GIS research in glacial geology, palaeo- and contemporary oceanography, numerical ice sheet modelling and satellite remote sensing in seeking to understand the nature and drivers of changes to GIS dynamics and assess its future stability. We particularly welcome abstracts in the following areas: new data on GIS Eemian, LGM and Holocene configuration; GIS retreat chronology; ice sheet dynamics and depositional environments from glacial geomorphology and sedimentology; offshore records of GIS history from continental shelf; relative sea- level records and unloading histories associated with ice sheet decay; numerical modelling investigations of ice sheet dynamics and sea-level change.