Holocene raised beaches in the Lutzow-Holm Bay region, East Antarctica

Geomorphological investigations of raised beaches were conducted in the Lutzow-Holm Bay region to interpret the age and elevations of Holocene marine limits in relation to the glacial history of ice-free coastal regions around Antarctica. Prior to the Holocene, it is inferred, based on the recent data, that the incursion of the sea took place between 35000 and 40000yr BP. Holocene raised beach deposits developed most extensively below 20m asl in the Lutzow-Holm Bay region and there was a significant correlation between their elevations and ages. A high sea level stand appears to have occurred between 4000 to 5000yr BP in this region. Above 25m asl, the Holocene marine limits can not be reliably determined in this region. This is accordant with other Antarctic regions where the maximum heights of raised beaches have not been identified above 30m asl. Together, the age and elevation characteristics of these raised beaches suggest that there has been minimal Antarctic ice-sheet expansion since the Last Glacial Maximum