Work

Late Holocene fast-ice dynamics around the Northern Victoria Land coast, Antarctica

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Fast ice, a consolidated form of sea ice commonly found along the Antarctic margins, plays a critical and multifaceted role in regulating ocean-cryosphere interactions and ecosystem dynamics. While satellite observations and numerical models provide valuable contemporary insights, reconstructing long-term trends and identifying potential environmental drivers requires alternative approaches. In this study, we present a novel method for reconstructing long-term fast-ice dynamics using a high-resolution analysis of a laminated sedimentary record from Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica. By integrating biomarker data, diatom assemblages and image analysis at sub-millimeter scale, we show how laminated deposits accurately reflect fast-ice variability, offering a new tool to investigate periods beyond the reach of direct observation. Our 3700-year record reveals persistent low-frequency cyclic patterns aligned with known solar cycles (Gleissberg and De Vries), pointing to a possible link between solar variability and fast-ice breakup through perturbation of regional atmospheric forcing. These results demonstrate the potential of our approach to resolve past changes and analyze temporal patterns in fast ice behavior during the late Holocene.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-67781-7