Tracking Long-Term Ice Sheet History with Cosmogenic Nuclides in Sediment

OVERVIEW

Studying long-term ice sheet history is challenging, especially because glacial advance during cool periods of climate erases evidence of glacial retreat during warm periods of climate. To investigate the size fluctuation and behavior of large ice sheets over long time scales, up to millions of years, we turn to the sedimentary record. We employ analysis of multiple cosmogenic nuclides with different half-lives in ice-bound cobbles/boulders, ice-bound fine sediment, subglacial sediment, and marine sediment cores. Our goal is to constrain the response of the world's large ice sheets to changes in climate, particularly during past warm periods, and to assess the impact of glacial erosion on landscapes.

PUBLICATIONS

Bierman, P.R., Mastro, H.M., Peteet, D.M., Corbett, L.B., Steig, E.J., Halsted, C.T., Caffee, M.W., Hidy, A.J., Balco, G., Bennike, O., and Rock, B. 2024. Plant, insect, and fungi fossils under the center of Greenland’s ice sheet are evidence of ice-free times. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121 (33): e2407465121.

Blard, P-H., Protin, M., Tison, J-L., Fripiat, F., Dahl-Jensen, D., Steffensen, J.P., Mahaney, W.C., Bierman, P.R., Christ, A.J., Corbett, L.B., Vinciane, D., Rigaudier, T., Claeys, P., and the ASTER Team. 2023. Basal debris of the NEEM ice core, Greenland: a window on sub-ice-sheet geology, basal ice processes, and ice sheet oscillations. Journal of Glaciology 122:1-19.

Christ, A.J., Rittenour, T.M., Bierman, P.R., Keisling, B.A., Knutz, P.C., Thomsen, T.B., Keulen, N., Fosdick, J.C., Hemming, S.R., Tison, J-L., Blard, P-H., Steffensen, J.P., Caffee, M.W., Corbett, L.B., Dahl-Jensen, D., Dethier, D.P., Hidy, A.J., Perdrial, N., Peteet, D.M., Steig, E.J., and Thomas, E.K. 2023. Deglaciation of northwestern Greenland during Marine Isotope Stage 11. Science 381 (6655): 330-335.

LeBlanc, D.E., Shakun, J.D., Corbett, L.B., Bierman, P.R., Caffee, M.W., and Hidy, A.J. 2023. Laurentide Ice Sheet persistence across Pleistocene interglacials. Geology 51: 496-499.

Christ, A.J., Bierman, P.R., Schaefer, J.M., Dahl-Jensen, D., Steffensen, J.P., Corbett, L.B., Peteet, D.M., Thomas, E.K., Steig, E.J., Rittenour, T.M., Tison, J.L., Blard, P.H., Perdrial, N., Dethier, D., Lini, A., Hidy, A.J., Caffee, M.W., and Southon, J. 2021. A multi-million-year-old record of Greenland vegetation and glacial history preserved in sediment beneath 1.4 km of ice at Camp Century. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 118 (13): e2021442118. (Featured on The Washington Post (online and front page; March 16, 2021), Live Science, WCAX, and UVM News) 

Corbett, L.B., Bierman, P.R., Neumann, T.A., Graly, J.A., Shakun, J.D., Goehring, B.M., Hidy, A.H., and Caffee, M.W. 2021. Multiple cosmogenic nuclides in glacial cobbles sheds light on Greenland Ice Sheet processes. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 554: 116673.

Christ, A.J., Bierman, P.R., Knutz, P.C., Corbett, L.B., Fosdick, J.C., Thomas, E.K., Cowling, O.C., Hidy, A.J., and Caffee, M.W. 2020. The northwestern Greenland Ice Sheet during the Early Pleistocene was similar to today. Geophysical Research Letters 47, e2019GL085938.

Graly, J.A., Corbett, L.B., Bierman, P.R., Lini, A., and Neumann, T.A. 2018. Meteoric 10Be as a tracer of subglacial processes and interglacial surface exposure in Greenland. Quaternary Science Reviews 191: 118-131.

Shakun, J.D., Corbett, L.B., Bierman, P.R., Underwood, K., Rizzo, D.M., Zimmerman, S.R., Caffee, M., and Naish, T. 2018. Minimal East Antarctic Ice Sheet retreat onto land during the past 8 Myr. Nature 558: 284-287. (Featured in articles by National Science Foundation)

Bierman, P.R., Shakun, J.D., Corbett, L.B., Zimmerman, S.R., and Rood, D.H. 2016. A persistent and dynamic East Greenland Ice Sheet over the past 7.5 million years. Nature, 540: 256-260 (Featured on the cover, see above, and in articles on Huntington Post, Time Magazine, Nature, Live Science, Popular Science, Scientific American, and UVM's Homepage in December 2016. We also did a live interview on Vermont Public Radio).

Bierman, P.R., Corbett, L.B., Graly, J.A., Neumann, T.A., Lini, A., Crosby, B., and Rood, D.H. 2014. Preservation of a pre-glacial landscape under the center of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Science 344, 402-405. (Featured in articles on NBC, LiveScience, National Science Foundation, NASA, National Public Radio, Huffington Post, Sci-News, International Business Times, and UVM's Homepage in April 2014. There is also an audio piece on Vermont Public Radio and the paper was covered on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (episode #41 from April 21 2014 between minutes 7:28-8:50)).

CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS

Bierman, P.R., Shakun, J.D., Steig, E.J., Perdrial, N., Corbett, L.B., Mastro, H., Collins, C., Souza, J., Peteet, D.M., Caffee, M., and Hidy, A.J. 2024. A tale of two deep ice cores: what we’ve learned about Greenland's Ice Sheet and when it was gone from the sub-glacial cores at Camp Century and GISP-2. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Washington, DC. Abstract ID C53C-01.

Shakun, J.D., Corbett, L.B., Bierman, P.R., Knutz, P.C., Underwood, K., Caffee, M.W., and Hidy, A.J. 2024. Cosmogenic nuclides in high latitude marine cores suggest a persistent Greenland Ice Sheet through most of the past 5 Myr. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Washington, DC. Abstract ID C53D-05.

Bierman, P.R., Steig, E., Mastro, H., Hidy, A.J., Caffee, M.W., Corbett, L.B., and Halsted, C.T. 2023. Basal till and fossil wood from GISP2 further constrain existing interpretations of Greenland Ice Sheet history at Summit. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. Abstract ID C11D-1068.

Cavnar, P., Bierman, P.R., Corbett, L.B., Shakun, J.D., and LeBlanc, D.E. 2023. Using 10Be cosmogenic nuclides to reveal variable Laurentide Ice Sheet erosivity under the Quebec-Labrador ice dome. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. Abstract ID C11D-1067.

LeBlanc, D.E., Hemming, S.R., Shakun, J.D., Corbett, L.B., Bierman, P.R., Caffee, M.W., and Hidy, A.J. 2023. Reconstructing North Atlantic ice sheet history using a dual-proxy approach and synthesis of 40Ar/39Ar hornblende ages from ice-rafted debris. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. Abstract ID PP24A-03.

LeBlanc, D.E., Shakun, J.D., Kong, T., Corbett, L.B., Bierman, P.R., Caffee, M.W., Hidy, A.J., and Wang, X.T. 2022. Investigating Pleistocene ice sheet and ocean dynamics in the subpolar North Atlantic using cosmogenic nuclides in IRD and foraminifera-bound nitrogen isotopes. 14th International Conference on Paleoceanography, Bergen, Norway.

Knutz, P., Nielsen, T., Sliwinska, K., Fyhn, M., Hopper, J., Jennings, A., Bierman, P.,R., Christ, A.J., Corbett, L.B., and Hidy, A.J., 2022. A rare record of late Neogene glaciation from the north east Greenland margin. European Geosciences Union General Assembly, Vienna, Austria. Geophysical Research Abstracts, EGU2022-12021.

LeBlanc, D.E., Shakun, J.D., Bierman, P.R., Corbett, L.B., and Caffee, M. 2021. Cosmogenic nuclides in last glacial ice-rafted debris inform long-term Northern Hemisphere ice sheet history. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, New Orleans, LA. Abstract ID PP51A-03.

Christ, A.J. Bierman, P.R., Corbett, L.B., Schaefer, J.M., Hidy, A.J., Caffee, M.W., and Dahl-Jensen, D. 2020. Cosmogenic 26Al and 10Be measurements from Camp Century basal sediment indicate Greenland Ice Sheet absence in the last million years. Joint Northeastern and Southeastern Geological Society of American Meeting (Cancelled due to COVID-19). Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 52(2).

Christ, A.J., Bierman, P.R., Dahl-Jensen, D., Steffersen, J.P., Peteet, D., Thomas, E.K., Steig, E., Corbett, L.B., Schaefer, J., Hidy, A.J., Caffee, M.W., Rittenour, T., Tison, J., Blard, P., Protin, M., and Southon, J. 2020. Camp Century ice core basal sediments record the absence of the Greenland Ice Sheet within the last million years. European Geosciences Union General Assembly Virtual Meeting. Geophysical Research Abstracts, EGU2020-12243.

Christ, A.J., Bierman, P.R., Schaefer, J.M., Dahl-Jensen, D., Steffensen, J.P., Steig, E.J., Thomas, E.K., Rittenour, T.M., Peteet, D.M., Corbett, L.B., Tison, J.L., Blard, P.H., Perdrial, N., Dethier, D., Lini, A., Hidy, A.J., Caffee, M.W., and Southon, J.R. 2020. A multi-million-year record of vegetation and ice-cover in the basal sediment from the Camp Century core, northwest Greenland. American Geophysical Union Virtual Fall Meeting. Abstract ID C052-12.

Christ, A.J., Bierman, P.R., Schaefer, J.M., Dahl-Jensen, D., Steffensen, J.P., Steig, E.J., Thomas, E.K., Peteet, D.M., Rittenour, T.M., Corbett, L.B., Tison, J.L., Blard, P.H., Perdrial, N., Dethier, D., Lini, A., Hidy, A.J., Caffee, M.W., and Southon, J. 2020. Camp Century ice core basal sediments contain a multi-million-year record of ice-cover and vegetation in northwestern Greenland. Geological Society of America Virtual National Meeting. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 52 (6).

Protin, M., Blard, P.H., Tison, J., Dahl-Jensen, D., Steffensen, J.P., Debaille, V., Fripiat, F., Claeys, P., Caffee, M.W., Bierman, P.R., Corbett, L.B., and Christ, A.J. 2020. Geolgical, geochemical, and cosmogenic nuclide constraints from the NEEM core basal sediments, Greenland. European Geosciences Union General Assembly Virtual Meeting. Geophysical Research Abstracts, EGU2020-18143.

LeBlanc, D., Shakun, J.D., Bierman, P.R., and Corbett, L.B. 2019. Using cosmogenic nuclides in ice-rafted debris to constrain ice sheet dynamics associated with Heinrich events. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. Abstract ID PP31C-1646.

Christ, A.J., Bierman, P.R., Knutz, P.C., Corbett, L.B., Fosdick, J.C., Thomas, E.K., Cowling, O., Hidy, A.J., and Caffee, M.W. 2019. Extracting histories of climate, erosion, and vegetation from glacial marine diamict, an under-utilized archive: proof of concept from Melville Bugt, NW Greenland. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 51(5).

Christ, A., Bierman, P., Corbett, L., Knutz, P., Fosdick, J., and Thomas, E. 2019. Applying cosmogenic nuclides to an under-utilized archive, glacial marine diamict: a pilot study from West Greenland. International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics General Assembly, Montreal, Canada. Abstract ID JP04p-125.

Christ, A.J., Bierman, P.R., Corbett, L.B., Knutz, P.C., Fosdick, J.C., and Thomas, E.K. 2019. Developing new proxies for an under-utilized archive, glacial marine diamict: a pilot study from West Greenland. International Arctic Workshop, Stockholm, Sweden.

Shakun, J.D., Bierman, P.R., Corbett, L.B., Underwood, K., Rizzo, D.M., Zimmerman, S.R., Caffee, M.W., Naish, T., Golledge, N.R., and Hay, C.C. 2018. Eight million years of polar ice sheet variations from cosmogenic nuclides in marine sediments. Goldschmidt meeting, Boston, MA.

Bierman, P.R., and Corbett, L.B. 2017. Deciphering Greenland Ice Sheet history and process over millions of years using cosmogenic nuclides. AMS 14 Meeting, Ottawa Canada, Abstract ID ACS-376.

Bierman, P.R., Corbett, L.B., and Shakun, J.D. 2017. Deciphering the history and processes of Greenland’s ice sheet(s) over thousands to millions of years using cosmogenic nuclides. NSF Workshop: How Stable is the Greenland Ice Sheet? Buffalo, NY.

Bierman, P.R., Corbett, L.B., and Shakun, J.D. 2017. Implications for sea level change over thousands to millions of years: tracing Greenland’s ice using cosmogenic nuclides. PALSEA final meeting, Cancuun, Mexico.

Corbett, L.B., Bierman, P.R., Neumann, T.A., Graly, J.A., Shakun, J.D., Caffee, M.W., Dunai, T., and Zimmerman, S.R. 2017. Analysis of three cosmogenic isotopes in subglacial cobbles helps unravel Greenland’s exposure and erosion history. Geological Society of American National Meeting, Seattle, WA. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 49(6).

Graly, J.A., Corbett, L.B., Bierman, P.R., and Neumann, T.A. 2017. Patches of pre-glacial regolith preserved in at least three Greenland Ice Sheet locations. NSF Workshop: How Stable is the Greenland Ice Sheet? Buffalo, NY.

Shakun, J.D., Corbett, L.B., Bierman, P.R., and Zimmerman, S.R. 2017. Pliocene Greenland Ice Sheet growth recorded by in situ 10Be decrease in multiple marine sediment cores. Geological Society of American National Meeting, Seattle, WA. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 49(6).

Corbett, L.B., Bierman, P.R., Neumann, T.A., and Graly, J.A. 2016. Stories under the ice: investigating glacial history and process with cosmogenic nuclides in icebound cobbles. Geological Society of American National Meeting, Denver, CO. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 48(7). (Invited talk)

Shakun, J.D., Corbett, L.B., and Bierman, P.R. 2016. Eight million years of land-based Antarctic Ice Sheet stability recorded by in situ 10Be from the ANDRILL-1B core. Northeastern Geological Society of America Meeting, Albany, NY. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 48(2).

Corbett, L.B., Bierman, P.R., Neumann, T.A., and Graly, J.A. 2015. Inferring glacial history and subglacial process through analysis of cosmogenic nuclides in icebound cobbles. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. Abstract ID C11A-0745.

Shakun, J.D., Corbett, L.B., and Bierman, P.R. 2015. Eight million years of land-based Antarctic Ice Sheet stability recorded by in situ 10Be from the ANDRILL-1B core. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. Abstract ID PP11E-03.

Bierman, P.R., Corbett, L.B., Shakun, J., and Rood, D.H. 2014. Cosmogenic isotopic tracing of sediment generated by Greenland Ice Sheet. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. Abstract ID EP33C-3652. (Invited Talk)

Bierman, P.R., Corbett, L.B., Graly, J.A., Neumann, T.A., Rood, D.H., Shakun, J., and Nelson, A. 2013. The Greenland Ice Sheet erodes its bed in some places but not in others. 8th International Association of Geomorphologists Conference, Paris, France. Abstract ID 1034.

Bierman, P.R., Rood, D.H., Corbett, L.B., Nelson, A., and Shakun, J. 2013. Using 10-Be in sediment to understand the long-term behavior of the Greenland Ice Sheet. European Geosciences Union General Assembly, Vienna, Austria. Geophysical Research Abstracts 15, EGU2013-8159.

Bierman, P.R., Corbett, L.B., Rood, D.H., Shakun, J.D., and Nelson, A. 2013. Where does sediment in the Greenland Ice Sheet come from? Northeastern Geological Society of America Meeting, Bretton Woods NH. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 45(1): 85.

Bierman, P., Rood, D., Corbett, L.B., and Graly, J. 2012. Cosmogenic 10Be views on the basal erosion history of the Greenland Ice Sheet. International Partnerships in Ice Core Sciences First Open Science Conference, Côte d’Azur, France.

Bierman, P.R., Corbett, L.B., Finkel, R.C., Graly, J.A., Hughes, J., Lini, A., Neumann, T.A., and Rood, D.H. 2011. Ancient, slowly-eroding soil preserved beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet. Geological Society of America National Meeting, Minneapolis, MN. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 43(5): 217.

Bierman, P.R., Corbett L.B., Graly, J.A., Neumann, T.A., Rood, D.H., and Finkel, R.C. 2011. Erosivity of the Greenland Ice Sheet monitored with in situ and meteoric 10Be in exposed bedrock and boulders and in ice-carried clasts and silt. International Quaternary Association Congress, Bern, Switzerland. Abstract ID 2475.

Graly, J.A., Corbett, L.B., Bierman, P.R., Neumann, T.A., Rood, D.H., and Finkel, R.C. 2010. Long-term erosion and interglacial period exposure in western Greenland from meteoric 10Be in ice-bound sediment. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. Abstract ID PP11D-1456.

Bierman, P.R., Portenga, E.W., Reusser L.J., Graly J.A., Corbett, L.B., and Borg, J. 2010. Three decades tracing erosion and sediment with cosmogenic nuclides - where do we go next? Landscapes to Rock, Geological Society of London, London England.

Graly, J.A., Corbett, L.B., Bierman, P.R., Neumann, T.A., Lini, A., Reusser, L.J., Finkel, R.C., and Rood, D.H.. 2010. High levels of meteoric 10Be indicate that relict soils are preserved in the Western Greenland Ice Sheet. International Polar Year Oslo Science Conference, Oslo, Norway.

Graly, J.A., Corbett, L.B., Bierman, P.R., Neumann, T.A., Lini, A., Reusser, L.J., Finkel, R.C., and Rood, D.H. 2010. Surface exposure age and erosion rates of sub-ice soils in Western Greenland. International Arctic Workshop, Winter Park, CO. International Arctic Workshop Program and Abstracts: 91-94.

Graly, J.A., Bierman, P.R., Neumann, T.A., Corbett, L.B., Lini, A., Reusser, L.J., Finkel, R.C., and Rood, D.H. 2009. Relict soil entrainment in Pleistocene Ice through open-system regelation: Latitudinal variation in the Western Greenland Ice Sheet. Geological Society of America National Meeting, Portland, OR. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 41(7): 621.