Varve and radiocarbon dating support the rapid advance of Jakobshavn Isbrae during the Little Ice Age

Large outlet glaciers draining the Greenland Ice Sheet significantly influence overall ice sheet mass balance. Considerable short term (years to decades) retreat and fluctuations in velocity of Jakobshavn Isbrae, western Greenland, illustrate the complex nature by which large outlet glaciers respond to climate change, making predictions of future ice sheet change challenging. To provide a longer-term view (centuries), we investigate the geological record of Jakobshavn Isbrae change. We use continuous sediment records from lakes that were influenced by the recent advance of Jakobshavn Isbrae, which took place during the Little Ice Age. In particular, we explore the use of annually laminated lake sediments (varves) to precisely constrain the advance of the ice margin as it approached its late Holocene maximum extent. We find that the ice margin advanced recently, at least after similar to 1650 to similar to 1700 AD, and more likely similar to 1800 AD. We suggest that during this period Jakobshavn Isbrae advanced at a rate that was similar to its historically documented average retreat since similar to 1850 AD. Our results indicate that Jakobshavn Isbrae, and presumably other large marine calving glaciers, have the ability to advance quickly in response to climate forcing. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.