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Abstract. Over recent decades Antarctic sea-ice extent has increased, alongsidewidespread ice shelf thinning and freshening of waters along the Antarcticmargin. In contrast, Earth system models generally simulate a decrease insea ice. Circulation of water masses beneath large-cavity ice shelves is notincluded in current Earth System models and may be a driver of thisphenomena. We examine a Holocene sediment core off East Antarctica thatrecords the Neoglacial transition, the last major baseline shift ofAntarctic sea ice, and part of a late-Holocene global cooling trend. Weprovide a multi-proxy record of Holocene glacial meltwater input, sedimenttransport, and sea-ice variability. Our record, supported by high-resolutionocean modelling, shows that a rapid Antarctic sea-ice increase during themid-Holocene (∼ 4.5 ka) occurred against a backdrop ofincreasing glacial meltwater input and gradual climate warming. We suggestthat mid-Holocene ice shelf cavity expansion led to cooling of surfacewaters and sea-ice growth that slowed basal ice shelf melting.Incorporating this feedback mechanism into global climate models will beimportant for future projections of Antarctic changes.more » « less
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