Sediment facies of a paleo-subglacial lake on the Antarctic continentral shelf

Subglacial lakes are widespread beneath the Antarctic ice sheet but their control on ice sheet dynamics and their ability to harbour life remain poorly characterised. Here we present the evidence for a palaeo-subglacial lake on the Antarctic continental shelf. A distinct sediment facies recovered from a bedrock basin in Pine Island Bay indicates deposition within a low-energy lake environment. Diffusive-advection modelling demonstrates that low chloride concentrations in the sediment pore water can only be explained by initial deposition of this facies in a freshwater setting. These observations indicate that an active subglacial meltwater network, similar to that observed beneath the extant ice sheet, was also active during the last glacial period. It also provides a new framework for refining exploration of these unique environments.