Glaciation of Scotland during the Younger Dryas stadial: a review

Golledge, Nicholas R.

doi:10.1002/jqs.1319

Cited by 83 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 141 publications

(276 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The entire Beinn Dearg massif, and the Fannichs to the southwest, are within the limits of Charlesworth's (1955) 'Stage M', which elsewhere approximates several accepted Younger Dryas margins (Golledge 2010a). Interstadial sediments of at least Allerød (GI-1c to GI-1a) (14.0 -12.9 cal.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 70%

Evolution of a Lateglacial mountain icecap in northern Scotland

Finlayson

Golledge

Bradwell

et al. 2011

Boreas

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Detailed geomorphological mapping of the Beinn Dearg massif in northern Scotland, was conducted to examine the maximum (Younger Dryas) extent, and earlier interstadial evolution, of an ice cap that existed during the Lateglacial period (14.7 -11.7 cal. ka BP). Landform evidence indicates a plateau ice cap configuration, with radial outlet glaciers, during the Younger Dryas. The interpreted age is supported by new cosmogenic exposure ages, and previously reported interstadial sediments beyond the ice cap margin. The reconstructed Younger Dryas Beinn Dearg ice cap covered 176 km 2 , with its summit positioned over the western side of the massif. Area-altitude balance ratio (AABR) equilibrium line altitudes (ELAs) of 570 -580 m were calculated for the ice cap as a whole. The empirically reconstructed ice cap is compared with recent numerical model simulations; both methods produce an ice cap with a similar configuration. However, differences are apparent in the extent of eastern and western outlets (±1-5 km), and in the spatial variation of ELAs. Results suggest that the numerical simulation over-estimates the extent of western ice cap sectors, and under-estimates the extent of eastern ice cap sectors. We attempt to quantify these differences in terms of ice cap mass balance and assess their possible causes. Geomorphological evidence for pre-Younger Dryas ice cap configuration indicates that the Beinn Dearg massif remained an important source during earlier deglaciation. In contrast, the neighbouring Fannich mountains acted as an 'unzipping' zone, and were ice free on their northern side by the Allerød (Greenland Interstadial 1c to 1a). Deglaciation continued over western parts of the Beinn Dearg plateau, with the possibility that glaciers remained in some central and eastern catchments, prior to (Younger Dryas) ice cap (re)growth.Andrew Finlayson (e-mail: afin@bgs.ac.uk), British Geological Survey, Edinburgh, UK and Institute of Geography, University of Edinburgh, UK; Nick Golledge (e-mail: nick.golledge@vuw.ac.nz), Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand; Tom Bradwell (e-mail: tbrad@bgs.ac.uk), British Geological Survey, Edinburgh, UK; Derek Fabel (e-mail: Derek.Fabel@ges.gla.ac.uk ), Department of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK.Reconstructions of palaeo-, or formerly more extensive, ice masses in northwest Europe have enabled inference of past glacier mass balance and climate, and allowed the causes of ice mass fluctuations to be assessed (e.g. Ballantyne 1989;Dahl & Nesje 1992;Carr 2001;Rea & Evans 2007;Golledge et al. 2009;Nesje 2009). In the Scottish Highlands, the last decade has seen a renewed focus of research into the extent and behaviour of ice masses during the Lateglacial Younger Dryas (YD), or Loch Lomond Stadial (Greenland Stadial 1 (GS-1)) (12.9 -11.7 cal. ka BP (Lowe et al. 2008))(e.g. Ballantyne 2002Ballantyne , 2007aBenn & Ballantyne 2005;Finlayson 2006;Golledge 2007;Lukas & Bradwell 2010). Key outcomes of this research have been the...

show abstract

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 70%

Evolution of a Lateglacial mountain icecap in northern Scotland

Finlayson

Golledge

Bradwell

et al. 2011

Boreas

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Currently, the best estimate of when the west coast of Scotland was free of ice from the last glacial period is approximately 13.5 ka (Lambeck, 1993), though it could be argued that 15 ka or 11.5 ka would be more appropriate. Modelling of the retreat of the last ice sheet (Clark et al, 2012) suggests that a significant number of the fjords would have been ice free around 15 ka (Supplement) and have the ability to start accumulating C. Alternatively, 11.5 ka (Golledge, 2010) could be used as this date signifies the point at which the fjords became permanently ice free after the loss of ice associated with the Younger Dryas period. By dividing the total C held within the postglacial sediment in all the fjords by this range of dates we can calculate the long-term average quantity of C buried per year since the start of the postglacial period.…”

Section: Upscaling To a National Sedimentary Carbon Inventorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Scotland's forgotten carbon: a national assessment of mid-latitude fjord sedimentary carbon stocks

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Fjords are recognised as hotspots for the burial and long-term storage of carbon (C) and potentially provide a significant climate regulation service over multiple timescales. Understanding the magnitude of marine sedimentary C stores and the processes which govern their development is fundamental to understanding the role of the coastal ocean in the global C cycle. In this study, we use the mid-latitude fjords of Scotland as a natural laboratory to further develop methods to quantify these marine sedimentary C stores on both the individual fjord and national scale. Targeted geophysical and geochemical analysis has allowed the quantification of sedimentary C stocks for a number of mid-latitude fjords and, coupled with upscaling techniques based on fjord classification, has generated the first full national sedimentary C inventory for a fjordic system. The sediments within these mid-latitude fjords hold 640.7 ± 46 Mt of C split between 295.6±52 and 345.1 ± 39 Mt of organic and inorganic C, respectively. When compared, these marine mid-latitude sedimentary C stores are of similar magnitude to their terrestrial equivalents, with the exception of the Scottish peatlands, which hold significantly more C. However, when areanormalised comparisons are made, these mid-latitude fjords are significantly more effective as C stores than their terrestrial counterparts, including Scottish peatlands. The C held within Scotland's coastal marine sediments has been largely overlooked as a significant component of the nation's natural capital; such coastal C stores are likely to be key to understanding and constraining improved global C budgets. Highlights-Scottish fjords are a more effective store of C than the terrestrial environment.-A total of 640.7 ± 46 Mt of C is stored in the sediment of Scotland's 111 fjords.-An estimated 31 139-40 615 t yr −1 of C is buried in the sediment of Scotland's fjords.-Fjord sediments are potentially the most effective store of C globally.

show abstract

“…12 500 a ago (Golledge, 2009). Our evidence suggests that some outlet glaciers with very large catchments may not have achieved their maximum limits until much later.…”

Section: Age Of Formation Of the Parallel Roadsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Annually resolved events of Younger Dryas glaciation in Lochaber (Glen Roy and Glen Spean), western Scottish Highlands

Palmer

Rose

Lowe

et al. 2010

J Quaternary Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper presents the results of micromorphological analysis of laminated sediments that accumulated in ice-dammed lakes in Lochaber (Glen Roy and vicinity) during the Younger Dryas (Loch Lomond) Stadial. These lakes were responsible for the formation of the famous 'Parallel Roads of Glen Roy' (Agassiz, 1840), prominent shorelines cut into the valley sides of Glen Roy and adjacent valleys. Annually deposited (varved) layers, which can be distinguished from other rhythmites by micromorphological examination, have enabled the construction of a varve chronology which underpins the glacial history of the region, the duration of the lake stands and rates of ice margin advance and retreat. The lake system existed for a total of 515 a. During a rise in lake levels, the lowermost (260 m), middle (325 m) and highest (350 m) lakes existed for minimal periods of 191, 112 and 116 a, respectively, and the fall of lake levels from 350 m to 260 m took 95 years. Ice advance rates of between 13.4 and 41.9 m a À1 are inferred, while ice retreat is estimated to have been $38.5 m a À1 . A provisional correlation between the Lochaber varve and GRIP ice core records suggests that the lakes started to form at ca. 12 165 a BP, in turn implying that the Loch Lomond Readvance limits in this area were not achieved until late in the Younger Dryas interval, a conclusion which does not accord with that based on numerical model simulations.

show abstract

Glaciation of Scotland during the Younger Dryas stadial: a review

Cited by 83 publications

References 141 publications

Evolution of a Lateglacial mountain icecap in northern Scotland

Evolution of a Lateglacial mountain icecap in northern Scotland

Scotland's forgotten carbon: a national assessment of mid-latitude fjord sedimentary carbon stocks

Annually resolved events of Younger Dryas glaciation in Lochaber (Glen Roy and Glen Spean), western Scottish Highlands

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About