Final deglaciation of the Malin Sea through meltwater release and calving events

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  • Serena Tarlati
    Ulster University
  • Sara Benetti
    Ulster University
  • Sarah Louise Callard
    Durham University
  • Colm Ó Cofaigh
    Durham University
  • Aggeliki Georgiopoulou
    University of Brighton
  • R. Edwards
    Trinity College Dublin
  • Katrien Van Landeghem
  • Margot Saher
  • Richard Chiverrell
    University of Liverpool
  • Derek Fabel
    Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
  • Steven Moreton
    NERC Radiocarbon Facility, East Kilbride
  • Sally Morgan
    University of Leicester
  • Chris Clark
    Sheffield University
During the last glacial maximum, the British-Irish Ice Sheet (BIIS) extended to the shelf edge in the Malin Sea between Ireland and Scotland, delivering sediments to the Donegal Barra Fan (DBF). Analysis of well-preserved, glacially-derived sediment in the DBF provides new insights on the character of the BIIS final deglaciation and paleoenvironmental conditions at the Younger Dryas (YD). Chaotic/laminated muds, ice-rafted debris (IRD)-rich layers and laminated sand-mud couplets are interpreted as respectively mass transport deposits, plumites and turbidites of BIIS-transported sediments. Peaks in IRD, constrained by radiocarbon dating to after 18 ka cal. BP, indicate discrete intervals of iceberg calving during the last stages of deglaciation. Glacially-derived sedimentation on the slope occurred until ~16.9 ka cal. BP. This is interpreted as the last time the ice sheet was present onto the shelf, allowing glacial meltwater to reach the fan. Bioturbated and foraminifera-rich muds above glaciomarine sediments are interpreted as interglacial hemipelagites and contourites, with the presence of Zoophycos suggesting restoration of bottom currents at the transition between stadial and interstadial conditions. During the YD, Neogloboquadrina pachyderma sinistral abundances and an isolated peak in IRD indicate the temporary restoration of cold conditions and the presence of icebergs in the region.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)117-133
JournalScottish Journal of Geology
Volume56
Issue number2
Early online date6 May 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2020

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