Retreat dynamics of the eastern sector of the British–Irish Ice Sheet during the last glaciation

Evans, D. J. A. et al. (2021) Retreat dynamics of the eastern sector of the British–Irish Ice Sheet during the last glaciation. Journal of Quaternary Science, 36(5), pp. 723-751. (doi: 10.1002/jqs.3275)

Abstract

The findings of BRITICE-CHRONO Transect 2 through the North Sea Basin and eastern England are reported. We define ice-sheet marginal oscillation between ~31 and 16 ka, with seven distinctive former ice-sheet limits (L1–7) constrained by Bayesian statistical analysis. The southernmost limit of the North Sea Lobe is recorded by the Bolders Bank Formation (L1; 25.8–24.6 ka). L2 represents ice-sheet oscillation and early retreat to the northern edge of the Dogger Bank (23.5–22.2 ka), with the Garret Hill Moraine in north Norfolk recording a significant regional readvance to L3 at 21.5–20.8 ka. Ice-marginal oscillations at ~26–21 ka resulted in L1, L2 and L3 being partially to totally overprinted. Ice-dammed lakes related to L1–3, including Lake Humber, are dated at 24.1–22.3 ka. Ice-sheet oscillation and retreat from L4 to L5 occurred between 19.7 and 17.3 ka, with grounding zone wedges marking an important transition from terrestrial to marine tidewater conditions, triggered by the opening of the Dogger Lake spillway between 19.9 and 17.5 ka. L6 relates to ice retreat under glacimarine conditions and final ice retreat into the Firth of Forth by 15.8 ka. L7 (~15 ka) represents an ice retreat from Bosies Bank into the Moray Firth.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: British-Irish Ice Sheet, ice-sheet flow dynamics, MIS2, North Sea Lobe, palaeoglaciology.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Fabel, Dr Derek
• Authors: Evans, D. J. A., Roberts, D. H., Bateman, M. D., Clark, C. D., Medialdea, A., Callard, L., Grimoldi, E., Chiverrell, R. C., Ely, J., Dove, D., Ó Cofaigh, C., Saher, M., Bradwell, T., Moreton, S. G., Fabel, D., and Bradley, S. L.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Journal of Quaternary Science
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0267-8179
• ISSN (Online): 1099-1417
• Published Online: 10 March 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of Quaternary Science 36(5): 723-751
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License