Open AccessLate Quaternary glaciation and environmental change on St. Kilda, Scotland, and their palaeoclimatic significance
Author(s) -
SUTHERLAND DONALD G.,
BALLANTYNE COLIN K.,
WALKER MICHAEL J. C.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
boreas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.95
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1502-3885
pISSN - 0300-9483
DOI - 10.1111/j.1502-3885.1984.tb01121.x
Subject(s) - stadial , glacial period , geology , quaternary , archipelago , period (music) , oceanography , ice sheet , physical geography , sea level , last glacial maximum , continental shelf , wisconsin glaciation , paleontology , ice stream , geography , sea ice , cryosphere , physics , acoustics
On Hirta, the largest island of the St. Kilda archipelago near the western edge of the Scottish continental shelf, evidence has been found for four cold periods and one intervening mild period. During the most recent cold period (the Loch Lomond Stadial), two protalus ramparts were formed. Prior to this there occurred two periods of valley glaciation separated by a mild interval during which the local vegetation was dominated by grasses and sedges. For the most recent valley glaciation (= Late Devensian glacial maximum) a mean July temperature of 4°C is inferred. At this time intensive periglacial processes were operative down to present sea level. At some earlier, pre‐Dcvensian, time St. Kilda was invaded by the Scottish ice sheet.