Source: Jody Webster GRG

Hot off the press! Tropical tales of dynamic global ice sheet dynamics during the Last Interglacial ~ 125,000 years ago.

Please join me in congratulating of GRG collaborator Dr Karen Vyverberg on the publication of her new paper in the journal Marine Geology.

Vyverberg, K., Dechnik, B., Dutton, A., Webster, J. M., Zwartz, D., 2018. Episodic reef growth in the Granitic Seychelles during the Last Interglacial: Implications for polar ice sheet dynamics. Marine Geology 399, 170-187.

This paper presents a comprehensive new analysis the fossil coral reef outcrops in the Seychelles. The study is part of a wonderful ongoing collaboration between the GRG and Dr Andrea Dutton’s sea level research group at the University of Florida. Apart from a couple of amazing field trips to the Seychelles, Karen was able to spend several months working with us at USYD over the past couple of years.

Highlights of this paper include:

• New, detailed facies descriptions of last interglacial fossil reefs in the Seychelles
• At least three distinct episodes of reef growth preserved
• At least two disturbance horizons punctuated reef growth in the Seychelles during the Last Interglacial period.

These reef disturbance horizons provide tantalizing evidence of either transient sea-level falls or still stands during the last interglacial, which would imply a dynamic behavior of the polar ice sheets during this past warm period.

Bravo Karen! And we look forward to the next paper presenting all the new U/Th dating information from these fascinating fossil reefs.

Cheers

Jody

#MarineScienceSydneyUni