A continental-scale Eurasian ice sheet 2.4 million years ago

Kaleb Wagner; Lotta Ylä-Mella; Martin Margold; Mads F. Knudsen; Aske L. Sørensen; Nicolaj K. Larsen; Robert S. Anderson; Birte L. Eriksen; Jesper Olsen; Jane Lund Andersen; Jirí Sláma; John D. Jansen

doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74454-6

A continental-scale Eurasian ice sheet 2.4 million years ago

Kaleb Wagner
, Lotta Ylä-Mella
, Martin Margold
, Mads F. Knudsen
, Aske L. Sørensen
, Nicolaj K. Larsen
, Robert S. Anderson
, Birte L. Eriksen
, Jesper Olsen
, Jane Lund Andersen
, Jirí Sláma
, John D. Jansen

GFÚ Institute of Geophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences
Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Charles University
Department of Geoscience, Aarhus University
Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University
Institute of Geology, Czech Academy of Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Understanding when ice sheets first developed over the continents is essential for attributing ice volume to marine records of global sea-level change. We resolve a long-standing terrestrial–marine mismatch in the timing of the first Eurasian Ice Sheet (EIS) expansion by dating the earliest glaciogenic unit in northwest Europe, the Hattem Bed Complex (HBC).

Paired cosmogenic ²⁶Al–¹⁰Be burial dating and detrital zircon fingerprinting indicate that glacially derived Fennoscandian gravels reached the Netherlands 2.41 (+0.51/−0.29) Ma, while ages from the overlying Appelscha Formation record a second EIS advance and attendant shutdown of the Baltic River System at 1.72 (+0.25/−0.25) Ma.

Cyclic stratification of the HBC could reflect freshwater discharge to the North Atlantic associated with episodic disruption of meridional overturning circulation. The timing of the first trans-Baltic EIS overlaps the Laurentide Ice Sheet maximum (2.42 ± 0.14 Ma), underscoring substantial Northern Hemisphere ice growth more than a million years prior to the Mid-Pleistocene Transition.

Original language	English
Article number	7747
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	17
ISSN	2041-1723
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74454-6
Publication status	Published - 19 Jun 2026

Keywords

construction, environment and energy

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10.1038/s41467-026-74454-6

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title = "A continental-scale Eurasian ice sheet 2.4 million years ago",

abstract = "Understanding when ice sheets first developed over the continents is essential for attributing ice volume to marine records of global sea-level change. We resolve a long-standing terrestrial{\textendash}marine mismatch in the timing of the first Eurasian Ice Sheet (EIS) expansion by dating the earliest glaciogenic unit in northwest Europe, the Hattem Bed Complex (HBC). Paired cosmogenic ²⁶Al{\textendash}¹⁰Be burial dating and detrital zircon fingerprinting indicate that glacially derived Fennoscandian gravels reached the Netherlands 2.41 (+0.51/−0.29) Ma, while ages from the overlying Appelscha Formation record a second EIS advance and attendant shutdown of the Baltic River System at 1.72 (+0.25/−0.25) Ma. Cyclic stratification of the HBC could reflect freshwater discharge to the North Atlantic associated with episodic disruption of meridional overturning circulation. The timing of the first trans-Baltic EIS overlaps the Laurentide Ice Sheet maximum (2.42 ± 0.14 Ma), underscoring substantial Northern Hemisphere ice growth more than a million years prior to the Mid-Pleistocene Transition.",

keywords = "construction, environment and energy",

author = "Kaleb Wagner and Lotta Yl{\"a}-Mella and Martin Margold and Knudsen, \{Mads F.\} and S{\o}rensen, \{Aske L.\} and Larsen, \{Nicolaj K.\} and Anderson, \{Robert S.\} and Eriksen, \{Birte L.\} and Jesper Olsen and Andersen, \{Jane Lund\} and Jir{\'i} Sl{\'a}ma and Jansen, \{John D.\}",

year = "2026",

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doi = "10.1038/s41467-026-74454-6",

language = "English",

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journal = "Nature Communications",

issn = "2041-1723",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - A continental-scale Eurasian ice sheet 2.4 million years ago

AU - Wagner, Kaleb

AU - Ylä-Mella, Lotta

AU - Margold, Martin

AU - Knudsen, Mads F.

AU - Sørensen, Aske L.

AU - Larsen, Nicolaj K.

AU - Anderson, Robert S.

AU - Eriksen, Birte L.

AU - Olsen, Jesper

AU - Andersen, Jane Lund

AU - Sláma, Jirí

AU - Jansen, John D.

PY - 2026/6/19

Y1 - 2026/6/19

N2 - Understanding when ice sheets first developed over the continents is essential for attributing ice volume to marine records of global sea-level change. We resolve a long-standing terrestrial–marine mismatch in the timing of the first Eurasian Ice Sheet (EIS) expansion by dating the earliest glaciogenic unit in northwest Europe, the Hattem Bed Complex (HBC). Paired cosmogenic ²⁶Al–¹⁰Be burial dating and detrital zircon fingerprinting indicate that glacially derived Fennoscandian gravels reached the Netherlands 2.41 (+0.51/−0.29) Ma, while ages from the overlying Appelscha Formation record a second EIS advance and attendant shutdown of the Baltic River System at 1.72 (+0.25/−0.25) Ma. Cyclic stratification of the HBC could reflect freshwater discharge to the North Atlantic associated with episodic disruption of meridional overturning circulation. The timing of the first trans-Baltic EIS overlaps the Laurentide Ice Sheet maximum (2.42 ± 0.14 Ma), underscoring substantial Northern Hemisphere ice growth more than a million years prior to the Mid-Pleistocene Transition.

AB - Understanding when ice sheets first developed over the continents is essential for attributing ice volume to marine records of global sea-level change. We resolve a long-standing terrestrial–marine mismatch in the timing of the first Eurasian Ice Sheet (EIS) expansion by dating the earliest glaciogenic unit in northwest Europe, the Hattem Bed Complex (HBC). Paired cosmogenic ²⁶Al–¹⁰Be burial dating and detrital zircon fingerprinting indicate that glacially derived Fennoscandian gravels reached the Netherlands 2.41 (+0.51/−0.29) Ma, while ages from the overlying Appelscha Formation record a second EIS advance and attendant shutdown of the Baltic River System at 1.72 (+0.25/−0.25) Ma. Cyclic stratification of the HBC could reflect freshwater discharge to the North Atlantic associated with episodic disruption of meridional overturning circulation. The timing of the first trans-Baltic EIS overlaps the Laurentide Ice Sheet maximum (2.42 ± 0.14 Ma), underscoring substantial Northern Hemisphere ice growth more than a million years prior to the Mid-Pleistocene Transition.

KW - construction, environment and energy

U2 - 10.1038/s41467-026-74454-6

DO - 10.1038/s41467-026-74454-6

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2041-1723

VL - 17

JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

M1 - 7747

ER -

A continental-scale Eurasian ice sheet 2.4 million years ago

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