The dataset comprises of site data and multiproxy analyses of LP08 lake sediment cores extracted from Lago Pato, a small lake basin at -51.3003, -72.6786 and approx 33 m a.s.l., which is topographically separated from Lago del Toro in Torres del Paine (TdP). The data are used to constrain glacier dynamics and lake level change in the TdP and Ultima Esperanza region over the last approx 30,000 cal a BP (30 ka). Data for the LP08 sediment record consist of downcore measurements of biology, chronology, geochemistry, sedimentology proxy data collected from the current depocentre between November 2007 to March 2008. This project was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) through the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and an UGent BOF bilateral collaboration project. RMcC was supported by Programa Regional R17A10002 and R20F0002 (PATSER) ANID. We gratefully acknowledge the University of Magallanes (UMAG) and the University of Santiago (Carolina Diaz) for assistance with fieldwork; the NERC/SUERC AMS Radiocarbon Facility for providing initial range-finder radiocarbon dates; the NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory (NIGL, now National Environmental Isotope Facility, NEIF, at the British Geological Survey) and Melanie Lang for stable carbon isotope analysis; Aberystwyth University (David Kelly), Durham University (Neil Tunstall and Christopher Longley) and Edinburgh University (Chris Hayward) for use of their core scanning and microprobe facilities and technical support.

Samples of early Tertiary age fossil wood and leaves were collected from Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula, in 2001. Fossils from Palaeogene strata were studied to determine the nature of vegetation response to the fundamental change from greenhouse to icehouse climates in Antarctica. Palaeoclimate data was derived using CLAMP (Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program) and several Leaf Margin Analysis (LMA) techniques based on the physiognomic properties of the leaves. Climate interpretation of the fossils produced new data on terrestrial climate change at high latitudes and were used to test and validate climate models, and to establish whether climate-induced changes in biodiversity occurred in a gradual or punctuated manner.

During field work in 2001 over 1600 specimens were collected from four main fossil plant assemblages: the ''Nordenksjold flora'' from the Cross Valley Formation of Late Palaeocene age; and 3 floras from La Meseta Formation i) Flora2 from the Valle De Las Focas allomember, ~late Early Eocene, ii) Wiman Flora, Acantilados allomember, late Early/mid Eocene, iii) Cucullaea 1, Cuculleae 1 allomember Flora, early Late Eocene. In addition smaller collections of fossils from other parts of the La Meseta Formation were collected. The work concentrated on the Late Palaeocene and the Cuculleae 1 floras as these were the best preserved and had sufficient morphotypes for climate analysis. In the Late Palaeocene flora 36 angiosperm leaf morphotypes were identified, along with 2 pteridophytes (ferns), and podocarp and araucarian conifers. Discovery of several new leaf types indicates that the Tertiary floras from Antarctica were more diverse than previously thought.