Landform Evolution in the Dry Valleys and its implications for Miocene-Pliocene Climate Change in Antarctica

这个项目试图回答一个简单的问题：在南极洲麦克默多干燥山谷的高地上发现的坑洞和相关的地貌特征有多老？一些研究表明，它们已经有1000多万年的历史了，并确定了世界上最大的东南极冰盖的生长日期--S。然而，一些证据表明，这些都是年轻的、侵蚀的特征，至今仍在继续进化。该项目使用宇宙核素测年来确定坑底的年龄。这一结果对确定S冰盖的历史和解释海洋沉积岩芯的氧同位素记录具有重要意义，这是全球气候的关键记录。更广泛的影响包括推广K12课程和将成果纳入大学课程。

This project seeks to answer a simple question: how old are potholes and related geomorphic features found in the uplands of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica? Some research suggests that they are over ten million years old and date the growth of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, the world?s largest. However, some evidence suggests that these are young, erosional features that continuing to evolve to this day. This project uses cosmogenic nuclide dating to determine the age of the pothole floors. The results are important for determining the ice sheet?s history and interpreting the O-isotope record from the marine sediment cores, key records of global climate. Broader impacts include K12 outreach and incorporation of outcomes into university courses.