Abstract
The Brunhes magnetochron (0–730 kyr) at Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 594 off eastern South Island, New Zealand, comprises up to ∼100 m of alternating units of pelagic and hemipelagic ooze formed during interglacial and glacial periods respectively. The youngest hemipelagic interval corresponds to glacial isotope stage 2 and can be correlated with extensive glacial and glacio-fluvial deposits of the late Last Glaciation (∼27–13 kyr BP) on South Island. Inferring the same genetic link for the other hemipelagic sediment units down core, we show here that as many as 12 major episodes of expanded alpine glaciation have occurred on South Island in the past 730 kyr. Each of these glacial episodes coincided with a period of significant 18O enrichment (+2‰) in the core resulting from changes in ocean isotope composition associated with major growth phases of the Northern Hemisphere ice sheets. The inferred history of alpine glaciations on this remote South Pacific island appears to be closely phase-locked (±3 kyr) to world-wide climate changes.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Prell, W. L. et al. Init. Rep. DSDP 68, 5–6 (1982).
Leg 90 Scientific Party Geotimes 28, 16–19 (1983).
Kennett, J. P. et al. Init. Rep. DSDP 90, (in the press).
Lewis, K. B., Bennett, D. J., Herzer, R. H. & von der Borch, C. Init. Rep. DSDP 90, (in the press).
Nelson, C. S., Hendy, C. H., Cuthbertson, A. M. & Jarrett, G. R. Init. Rep. DSDP 90, (in the press).
Jarrett, G. R. thesis, Univ. Waikato, Hamilton (1985).
Shackleton, N. J. & Opdyke, N. D. Quat. Res. 3, 39–55 (1973).
Imbrie, J. et al. in Milankovitch and Climate Change (eds Imbrie, J. & Berger, A.) (Eisevier, Amsterdam, 1985).
Suggate, R. P., Stevens, G. R. & Te Punga, M. T. (eds) The Geology of New Zealand vol. 2 (NZ Geological Survey, DSIR, Wellington, 1978).
Burrows, C. J. Mauri Ora 6, 69–96 (1978).
Griggs, G. B., Carter, L., Kennett, J. P. & Carter, R. V., Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 94, 791–797 (1983).
Herzer, R. H. N. Z. Jl Geol. Geophys. 22, 391–406 (1979).
Salinger, M. J. in Late Cainozoic Palaeoclimates of the Southern Hemisphere (ed. Vogel, J. C.) (Balkema, Rotterdam, 1984).
Suggate, R. P. in Landforms of New Zealand (eds Soons, J. M. & Selby, M. J.) (Longman, Auckland, 1982).
Fitzharris, B. B., Mansergh, G. D. & Soons, J. M. in Landforms of New Zealand (eds Soons, J. M. & Selby, M. J.) (Longman, Auckland, 1982).
Fleming, C. A. The Geological History of New Zealand and its Life (University Press, Auckland, 1979).
Adams, J. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 91, Pt II, 1–144 (1980).
Gibb, J. G. & Adams, J. N.Z. Jl Geol. Geophys. 25, 335–352 (1982).
Andrews, P. B. N.Z. Jl Geol. Geophys. 16, 793–830 (1973).
McCraw, J. D. in Quaternary Studies (eds Suggate, R. P. & Cresswell, M. M.) R. Soc. N.Z. Bull. 13, 35–44 (1979).
Thiede, J. Geology 7, 259–262 (1979).
Stewart, R. B. & Neall, V. E. Nature 311, 47–48 (1984).
Shackleton, N. J. & Opdyke, N. D. in Investigation of Late Quaternary Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology (eds Cline, R. M. & Hays, J. D.); Geol. Soc. Am. Mem. 145, 449–464 (1976).
Kukla, G. J. Earth-Sci. Rev. 13, 307–374 (1977).
Barton, C. E. & Bloemendal, J. Init. Rep. DSDP 90, (in the press).
Ciesielski, P. F. Init. Rep. DSDP 90, (in the press).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nelson, C., Hendy, C., Jarrett, G. et al. Near-synchroneity of New Zealand alpine glaciations and Northern Hemisphere continental glaciations during the past 750 kyr. Nature 318, 361–363 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/318361a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/318361a0
This article is cited by
-
Evidence from Southern Ocean sediments for the effect of North Atlantic deep-water flux on climate
Nature (1992)
-
Evolution of late pleistocene and holocene climates in the circum-south pacific land areas
Climate Dynamics (1992)
-
Paläoklima und paläoozeanische Verhältnisse im SW-Pazifik während der letzten 6 Millionen Jahre (DSDP - Site 594, Chatham Rücken, östlich Neuseeland)
Geologische Rundschau (1991)
-
An exceptionally large late Quaternary eruption from New Zealand
Nature (1986)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
