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First description of subglacial megalineations from the late Paleozoic ice age in southern Africa.

ABSTRACT: We identify late Paleozoic ice age (LPIA) subglacial megalineations from field and geospatial imagery of the Twyfelfontein area of northern Namibia, and present the results of a geomorphometric analysis of those data. Asymmetric 0.1-1.5 km-long megawhalebacks indicate a paleo-ice flow to the northwest. We infer that an ice stream draining the LPIA Kaokoveld ice sheet existed within the proto-Huab River valley and that was comparable to ice streams in modern Antarctica. Recognition of a paleo-ice stream in northern Namibia supports interpretations of glaciogenic sedimentary successions (Itararé Group) in southern Brazil that suggest the presence of major, terrestrial glacial outlet systems in southern Africa during the LPIA.

SUBMITTER: Andrews GD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6353137 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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First description of subglacial megalineations from the late Paleozoic ice age in southern Africa.

Andrews Graham D GD McGrady Andrew T AT Brown Sarah R SR Maynard Shannon M SM

PloS one 20190130 1

We identify late Paleozoic ice age (LPIA) subglacial megalineations from field and geospatial imagery of the Twyfelfontein area of northern Namibia, and present the results of a geomorphometric analysis of those data. Asymmetric 0.1-1.5 km-long megawhalebacks indicate a paleo-ice flow to the northwest. We infer that an ice stream draining the LPIA Kaokoveld ice sheet existed within the proto-Huab River valley and that was comparable to ice streams in modern Antarctica. Recognition of a paleo-ice ...[more]

PMID: 30699176

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