| Abstract: | The Cenozoic West Antarctic rift system, characterized by Cenozoic bimodal alkalic volcanic rocks, extends over a largely ice-covered area, from the Ross Sea nearly to the Bellingshausen Sea. Various lines of evidence lead to the following interpretation: the transantarctic Mountains part of the rift shoulder (and probably the entire shoulder) has been rising since about 60 Ma, at episodic rates of ~1 km/m.y., most recently since mid-Pliocene Time, rather than continuously at the mean rate of 100 m/m.y. Uplift rates vary along the scarp, which is cut by transverse faults. It is speculated that this uplift may have climatically forced the advance of the Antarctic ice sheet since the most recent warm period. A possible synergistic relation is suggested between episodic tectonism, mountain uplift, and volcanism in the Cenozoic West Antarctic rift system and waxing and waning of the Antarctic ice sheet beginning about earliest Oligocene time. -from Authors |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70016810 |
| Citation Author: | Behrendt, J. C.; Cooper, A. |
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| Citation End Page: | 319 |
| Citation Issue: | 4 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Geology |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 5 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Evidence of rapid Cenozoic uplift of the shoulder escarpment of the Cenozoic West Antarctic rift system and a speculation on possible climate forcing; 1991; Article; Journal; Geology; Behrendt, J. C.; Cooper, A. |
| Citation Start Page: | 315 |
| Citation Volume: | 19 |
| Citation Year: | 1991 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Evidence of rapid Cenozoic uplift of the shoulder escarpment of the Cenozoic West Antarctic rift system and a speculation on possible climate forcing; 1991; Article; Journal; Geology; Behrendt, J. C.; Cooper, A. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| Date Other: | Tue, 1 Jan 1991 00:00 -0600 |
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