Late Quaternary glaciation and environmental change on St. Kilda, Scotland, and their palaeoclimatic significance |
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| Authors: | DONALD G SUTHERLAND COLIN K BALLANTYNE MICHAEL J C WALKER |
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| Institution: | Department of Geography, University of Edinburgh, Drummond Street, Edinburgh EH8 9XP, Scotland;Department of Geography, University of St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9AL, Scotland;Department of Geography, St. David's University College, Lampeter, Dyfed SA48 7ED, Wales |
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| Abstract: | 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. |
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