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

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DOI

  • David J. A. Evans
    Durham University
  • David H. Roberts
    Durham University
  • Mark D. Bateman
    University of Sheffield
  • Alicia Medialdea
    National Research Centre on Human Evolution (CENIEH) Burgos Spain
  • Louise Callard
    Newcastle University
  • Elena Grimoldi
    Fugro, Fugro House, Wallingford Oxford UK
  • Richard C. Chiverrell
    University of Liverpool
  • Jeremy Ely
    University of Sheffield
  • Dayton Dove
    Herriot Watt University
  • Colm Ó Cofaigh
    University of Durham
  • Margot Saher
  • Tom Bradwell
    University of Stirling
  • Steven G. Moreton
    Natural Environment Research Council, Radiocarbon facility East Kilbride UK
  • Derek Fabel
    Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre East Kilbride UK
  • Sarah L. Bradley
    University of Cologne
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

Keywords

  • Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), Palaeontology, Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)723-751
JournalJournal of Quaternary Science
Volume36
Issue number5
Early online date10 Mar 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2021
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