The Quaternary of the British Isles: factors forcing environmental change

Abstract

This paper considers the processes that have controlled cool temperate latitude terrestrial environments over the last ca 3 Ma, with particular reference to the British Isles. A scheme is proposed that is based on the processes that act on the land over any given period of time and are the product of climate modulated by rock type (the resisting agent) and relief (determined by tectonics and antecedent relief-forming factors). Climate is generalised in terms of the range and rates of climate change determined by orbital forcing. During precession cycles climate change was small and insolation levels were forced by chemically and biologically driven processes. The period of obliquity cycles is characterised by patterns of climate change in which physical processes became effective and high-magnitude fluvial and slope processes were reinforced by periglaciation and glaciation in susceptible regions. Eccentricity cycles include climate extremes of longer duration, and glaciation and periglaciation were the major contributors to landscape change, sediment transfer and sediment mixing. These climate-forced processes produce distinctive landform, sediment and soil assemblages characteristic of particular episodes of Quaternary time. The lags between the successive systems are identified.

Book review

“…At the present time there is much debate about the importance of human activity as a factor in shaping our landscape (Wilkinson, 2005;Hoffmann et al, 2010;Rose, 2010, Evans, 2012, and Chapter 9 examines this issue with reference to quarrying and mining, river engineering and the management of dams. Although not considered in the book, Peter Wilson also reminds us of the importance of humans in shaping the fine texture of the Lake District landscape with human control over the formation of the characteristic hillslope vegetation, field patterns along with the dry stone walls, and farm and village buildings.…”

A new Quaternary and Neogene Lithostratigraphical Framework for Great Britain and the Isle of Man

“…Early thoughts on a possible hierarchy were published by McMillan and Hamblin (2000), and refined in a subsequent 'overview' report , the key points of which were discussed at the TNO International Workshop on Integrated Land-Sea Lithostratigraphic Correlation in Utrecht, The Netherlands, in April 2003(McMillan, 2005. In parallel, a novel chronostratigraphical classification applicable to the UK, and based upon an embracing forcing-event stratigraphy, was developed by Rose (2003Rose ( , 2010. Elsewhere, particularly applicable in glaciated terrains (e.g.…”

Review of tufa deposition and palaeohydrological conditions in the White Peak, Derbyshire, UK: implications for Quaternary landscape evolution

“…This is comparable with Bridgland's (2000) model of Mid and Late Pleistocene terrace aggregation and valley erosion synchronized with glacial-interglacial cycles, with aggradation associated with ameliorating climatic conditions. The remoteness of the Wye catchment from the coast and from the River Trent suggests that climatic forcing, moderated by local uplift and gradients, was responsible for the valley incision (Bridgland, 2000;Maddy, 1996;Rose, 2010 andWestaway 2009). It is reasonable to assume that once the limestone had been unroofed of its former Namurian cover, the stream would have functioned much as it does now, except when the hydrology was dominated by distally-derived glacial or periglacial meltwater.…”