Coupling of lithosphere dynamics, surface processes and ice sheet evolution - constraints from Marie Byrd Land, West Antarctica

南极洲西部结合了地球上最大的活跃裂谷系统和最大的冰盖。南极西部冰盖的完全融化将导致全球海平面上升约5米。了解冰盖动态对预测南极洲未来的冰川消融过程具有重要意义。一般认为，西南极作为西南极冰盖的“摇篮”，其地球动力活动对西南极冰盖的动力学有很大影响，但其耦合和反馈机制却知之甚少。此外，关于西南极洲的地球动力学演变及其冰盖长期变化的资料也很少。我们的项目旨在应用地球物理和热年代学方法，从地壳结构、剥露和侵蚀速率、断层活动和（古）地热梯度等方面揭示玛丽伯德地（西南极）的地球动力学演化。此外，我们将使用宇宙成因核素分析重建变薄率和冰川退缩的玛丽伯德土地。这两套数据的结合将提供关于地球动力活动和冰盖演变的空间和时间相关性的信息。这将有助于我们了解岩石圈过程，表面过程和冰盖动力学之间的相互关系，从而为未来的冰川消退模型提供基准。

West Antarctica combines one ofthe largest active rift systems with one ofthe largest ice sheets on earth. Complete melting ofthe West Antarctic ice sheet would result in a global sea level rise of ~5 m. Understanding ice sheet dynamics is of major importance for predicting future deglaciation processes in Antarctica. Generally, it is assumed that the geodynamic activity of Westem Antarctica as the "cradle" of the West Antarctic ice sheet exerts a strong influence on ice sheet dynamics, but coupling and feedback mechanisms are poorly understood. Also, information on both, the geodynamic evolution of West Antarctica and on long-term changes of its ice sheet is scarce. Our project aims to apply geophysical and thermochronological methods for unravelling the geodynamic evolution of Marie Byrd Land (West Antarctica) in terms of crustal structure, exhumation and erosion rates, fault activities, and (paleo-) geothermal gradient. Furthermore, we will use cosmogenic nuclide analysis for reconstructing thinning rates and glacial retreat in Marie Byrd Land. The combination of both data sets will provide information on spatial and temporal correlations of geodynamic activity and ice sheet evolution. This will contribute to our understanding of interrelations between lithospheric processes, surface processes, and ice sheet dynamics, thus providing benchmarks for future deglaciation models.