Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5786418 | Proceedings of the Geologists' Association | 2017 | 13 Pages |
Abstract
The extent, basal conditions and retreat history of a Loch Lomond Stadial glacier are reconstructed based on detailed geomorphological and sedimentological assessment. We present new evidence from the vicinity of Coire Ardair that supports the former existence of a warm-based, locally-fed valley glacier, with probable cold-based ice on the surrounding plateau. This is broadly consistent with modelled creep-dominated flow in the upper catchment and sliding-dominated flow throughout much of the valley. A dense suite of moraines, primarily formed in ice-marginal environments, records a multi-phase recessional history: (1) active and oscillatory retreat; (2) a prolonged ice stillstand; (3) partial ice stagnation with occasional minor readvances; (4) increased oscillatory retreat with a substantial readvance event; and (5) rapid and uninterrupted retreat. We propose that a Coire Ardair glacier responded to sub-centennial scale climate fluctuations, possibly associated with the periodic delivery of warmer air masses to the region, rather than to a single, prominent shift in climate.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Geology
Authors
R. Selwyn Jones, J. John Lowe, Adrian P. Palmer, Shaun R. Eaves, Nicholas R. Golledge,