Sediment Flux, East Greenland Margin
Abstract
We investigated sediment flux across an ice-dominated, high latitude continental margin, using cores from the East Greenland Shelf (ca. 68 deg N). Density, weight percentages of the various sediment components, and sediment/age relations (AMS C- 14 dates) were investigated from cores collected 1988 and 1990. High-resolution DTS Huntec surveys indicated 10-20 m of acoustically transparent sediment. Maximum core length was 3 m and most of the gravity cores were between 1-2 m. The radiocarbon assays show that basal core sediments date between ca. 9,000 and 14,500 BP. The acoustic characteristics, the low dry volume densities (ca. 600 kg/m3 and the faunal and floral assemblages suggest ice-distal conditions between ca. 14,500 and the present. Net sediment flux in the Kangerdlugssuaq Trough during the last 14,500 years has been low; this might be explained by either (1) cold-based glaciological conditions of the East Greenland ice sheet; and/or (2) efficient sediment trap(s) lying along the inner shelf/fjords of East Greenland.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 17, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA258067
Entities
People
- J. T. Andrews
- K. M. Williams
Organizations
- University of Colorado Boulder