Julia S. Wellner & John B. Anderson 
Tectonic, Climatic, and Cryospheric Evolution of the Antarctic Peninsula 

Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the
Special Publications Series.
Tectonic, Climatic, and Cryospheric Evolution of the Antarctic
Peninsula presents the analysis of data collected during the
SHALDRIL program, which sampled the most complete Cenozoic
stratigraphic section in the Antarctic Peninsula. The stratigraphic
intervals sampled fill major gaps in the existing stratigraphic
record in the region, which is believed to have been the last place
in Antarctica to become fully glaciated and, as such, the last
refugium for plants and animals living on the continent. Providing
previously unpublished results from studies aimed at improving our
understanding of the changes in climate, glacial setting, and fauna
and flora that took place over the past 30 million years, the
volume highlights include discussions of marine seismic and drill
core records documenting the initial growth and expansion of an ice
sheet across the northernmost Antarctic Peninsula continental shelf
in the northwestern Weddell Sea.

The book features:

* Detailed vegetation and phytoplankton evolution from greenhouse
through icehouse conditions in Antarctica’s last refugium

* Sand grain texture and micromorphology indicating ice sheet
control of weathering style

* Exhumational history around the Drake Passage margins from
thermochronology and sediment provenance

* Comprehensive review of the opening of the ocean passageway
between Antarctica and South America and the associated regional
tectonics.

Tectonic, Climatic, and Cryospheric Evolution of the
Antarctic Peninsula will be of interest to geologists,
climatologists, and glaciologists interested in climate and
cryosphere evolution and those factors that regulate it.

Table of Content

Preface
John B. Anderson and Julia S. Wellner v

Introduction
John B. Anderson and Julia S. Wellner 1

A Different Look at Gateways: Drake Passage and Australia/Antarctica
Lawrence A. Lawver, Lisa M. Gahagan, and Ian W. D. Dalziel 5

Exhumational History of the Margins of Drake Passage
From Thermochronology and Sediment Provenance
David L. Barbeau Jr 35

Seismic Stratigraphy of the Joinville Plateau: Implications for Regional Climate Evolution
R. Tyler Smith and John B. Anderson 51

Age Assessment of Eocene-Pliocene Drill Cores Recovered During the SHALDRIL II Expedition, Antarctic Peninsula
Steven M. Bohaty, Denise K. Kulhanek, Sherwood W. Wise Jr., Kelly Jemison, Sophie Warny, and Charlotte Sjunneskog 63

Magnetic Properties of Oligocene-Eocene Cores From SHALDRIL II, Antarctica
Luigi Jovane and Kenneth L. Verosub 115

History of an Evolving Ice Sheet as Recorded in SHALDRIL Cores
From the Northwestern Weddell Sea, Antarctica
Julia S. Wellner, John B. Anderson, Werner Ehrmann, Fred M. Weaver, Alexandra Kirshner, Daniel Livsey, and Alexander R. Simms 131

Cenozoic Glacial History of the Northern Antarctic Peninsula: A Micromorphological Investigation of Quartz Sand Grains
Alexandra E. Kirshner and John B. Anderson 153

Last Remnants of Cenozoic Vegetation and Organic-Walled Phytoplankton in the Antarctic Peninsula’s Icehouse World
Sophie Warny and Rosemary Askin 167

Vegetation and Organic-Walled Phytoplankton at the End of the Antarctic Greenhouse World: Latest Eocene Cooling Events
Sophie Warny and Rosemary Askin 193

AGU Category Index 211

Index 213

About the author

JOHN B. ANDERSON is the Maurice Ewing Professor of Oceanography, Emeritus at Rice University in Texas. He has participated in 24 scientific expeditions to Antarctica and countless other expeditions from Alaska to Chile. He has authored and co-authored over 250 peer-reviewed publications, edited 5 volumes and published two books.

BRUCE MOLINA earned a Ph.D. in marine geology from the University of South Carolina. He joined the US Geological Survey in 1974 and currently serves as a Research Geologist of the Earth Surface Processes Team. He has authored, coauthored, or edited more than 200 articles, abstracts, maps, and books.