South Georgia
South Georgia lies to the west of the Falkland Islands in the Drake Passage region in the South Atlantic. Most of the island is covered by permanent ice, particularly its western shore, as precipitation mainly comes with the predominantly westerly winds. The Drake Passage region and South Georgia represent a key area for understanding polar processes responsible for inter-hemispheric climate change on decadal to millennial timescales.
Silent witnesses to global climate change! Foto: J.Bakke
Its location in the core of the westerly wind flow and the circumpolar current surrounding Antarctica implies that broad-scale shifts in the climate gradient can be picked up in terrestrial archives on South Georgia. Many distal glacier-fed lakes are situated in front of small alpine glaciers, especially in the Cumberland Bay area, and are ideal for reconstructing glacier activity. South Georgia is one of the best studied sub-Antarctic islands and palaeoclimatic data exist based on geomorphological studies [35, 36], geochemical and geophysical studies in lake sediments [37-39], palaeobotanical studies [40, 41], recent glacier fluctuations and ocean variability around the island [42-44]. These proxies will be used in combination with our continuous Holocene glacier reconstruction to provide seasonal reconstructions. Presently, a research station managed by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is located at Grytviken with the possibility of providing necessary logistical support.
Beautiful bog section in Carlita Bay Foto: J.Bakke
Sist endret: 2.11.2012
- Isbre