Premium
Glacial incisions indicating Middle and Upper PIeistocene ice limits off Britain
Author(s) -
Wingfield R.T.R.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
terra nova
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.353
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-3121
pISSN - 0954-4879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3121.1989.tb00430.x
Subject(s) - geology , glacial period , stadial , ice shelf , ice sheet , continental shelf , paleontology , geomorphology , quaternary , tidewater , stage (stratigraphy) , oceanography , physical geography , glacier , sea ice , cryosphere , geography
From the recognition that major incisions formed at lowland or tidewater ice sheet margins during each of the last three glacial stages, it is assumed that a standard Quaternary stratigraphy is applicable to the deposits geophysically profiled on the continental shelf off Britain. Ice limits for each glacial stadial can be mapped from the geographical distribution of the incisions. During the next glacial stage major incisions will be downcut on the present continental shelf or coastal lowlands to some 350 m below the ambient surface. This will have important environmental consequences regarding the long‐term burial of hazardous wastes.