Holocene glacial history and sea-level changes on James Ross Island,Antarctic Peninsula

A reconstruction of deglaciation and associated sea-level changes on northern James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula, based on lithostratigraphical and geomorphological studies, shows that the initial deglaciation of presently ice-free areas occurred slightly before 7400 ¹⁴C yr BP. Sea-level in connection with the deglaciation was around 30 m a.s.l. A glacier readvance in Brandy Bay, of at least 7 km, with the initial 3 km over land, reached a position off the present coast at ca. 4600 yr BP. The culmination of the advance was of short duration, and by 4300 yr BP the coastal lowlands again were ice-free. A distinct marine level at 16–18 m a.s.l. was contemporaneous with or slightly post-dates the Brandy Bay advance, thus indicating the relative sea-level around 4600–4500 yr BP. Our results from James Ross Island confirm that over large areas in this part of Antarctica the last deglaciation occurred late. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An approach to modelling the impact of snow drift on glaciation in the Cairngorm Mountains,Scotland

This paper uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to develop a rule-based model of the effect of snow drifting on glacier growth in the Cairngorm Mountains, Scotland during the Younger Dryas interval. We develop a qualitative model of snow drift that uses a number of simple heuristics to generate a map of relative accumulation at a 50-m resolution over the massif. Relative susceptibility to snow drifting is then compared for a number of different zones under varying wind directions. We conclude that, under the conditions tested in our model, glaciation of the Cairngorms during the Younger Dryas was confined to the high corries and that the pattern of snow drifting suggested by our model points to dominant southerly winds. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ice directions in western lleyn and the status of the gwynedd readvance of the last irish sea glacier

A ‘Gwynedd readvance’ of the last Irish Sea glacier, terminating on the north coast of the Lleyn peninsula in northwest Wales, has been proposed on the basis of differences in ice flow direction and in drift landforms on either side of the proposed limit. However, detailed drift mapping of western Lleyn reveals erosional and depositional evidence of ice flow direction which are consistent with a single advance and retreat. Differences in drift landforms are explained by the influence of topography on glacier dynamics and sedimentation. There is, therefore, no reason to invoke a ‘Gwynedd readvance’ of the last Irish Sea glacier and the marked climatic deterioration which a substantial readvance of such a large glacier would imply.     

新疆库鲁克塔格地区特瑞爱肯冰期下限及沉积物源分析

本文通过对新疆库鲁克塔格地区特瑞爱肯组底部含冰碛砾砂质泥岩的碎屑锆石进行U-Pb年龄测定,获得100组U-Pb年龄有效数据,最年轻碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄652.5±12.0 Ma,该年龄代表了特瑞爱肯组的最大沉积年龄,也表示特瑞爱肯冰期的下限。本文获得的特瑞爱肯冰期下限与南沱冰期、Marinoan冰期下限较为一致,认为三者的发生具有等时性。对其余较老年龄分析,U-Pb年龄峰值为800 Ma和1911 Ma的碎屑锆石具有显著优势,特瑞爱肯冰期的沉积物源主要为来自715～887 Ma、1700～2300 Ma及2400～2800 M的岩石。     

Late Devensian ice sheet characteristics: a palaeohydraulic approach

Glacial meltwater channels are incised into bedrock and diamicton along much of the length of the Mid-Cheshire Ridge. Detailed mapping of one such system near the town of Helsby reveals a dendritic channel network developed in the opposite direction to the regional ice flow during the last (Late Devensian) glaciation. The channels formed subglacially, under atmospheric and not hydrostatic pressure, presumably as the ice sheet downwasted during deglaciation. Morphological and palaeohydraulic evidence suggests that not all of the network was necessarily active contemporaneously. Former water levels in the channels can be estimated due to the presence of bar surfaces, giving a calculated palaeodischarge of at least 111 m³ s⁻¹. The ablation rates required to account for this large discharge are an order of magnitude greater than those obtained from theoretical calculations and those observed in modern glacial environments. This implies that some form of high-magnitude discharge, such as a seasonal flood event, must have taken place in this area during deglaciation. This picture of the Late Devensian ice sheet suggests that during recession the ice sheet was static, crevassed and relatively thin (<50 m). This study also shows that there is no simple relationship between meltwater channel direction and ice dynamics, and that care is required when using the former to make inferences about the latter. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Late Devensian glaciation of the eastern Lleyn Peninsula,North Wales: evidence for terrestrial depositional environments

The glacial deposits of the eastern Lleyn Peninsula record the advance, coalescence and subsequent retreat and uncoupling of Welsh and Irish Sea ice-sheets during the Late Devensian cold stage. During advance a thick sheet of basal diamict was deposited over much of the area, and during retreat and uncoupling, which occurred after 14.5 ka, the eastern part of the area was dominated by the formation of a large sandur system draining from the retreating margin of the Irish Sea ice-sheet. Subsequent stages of retreat are marked by a series of arcuate cross-valley moraines formed either by ice-contact deposition during stillstand or by structural deformation during minor snout oscillation. In the western part of the area sedimentation was controlled by a series of dead-ice ridges running parallel to the retreating ice-margin and this led to the development of a complex assemblage of localised depositional environments including ice-front alluvial fans, marginal sandur troughs and pro-glacial lake basins, all formed under supraglacial ice-marginal conditions. No evidence of glaciomarine deposition is recorded. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

现代长江口的形成及末次冰消期以来沉积环境演变

利用在长江口崇明岛获得的一个第四纪钻孔,对中更新世末以来的沉积物进行了OSL、14C测年,在此基础上进行岩性、微体古生物和孢粉分析,以探讨现代长江口形成的基础以及末次冰消期以来在气候-海平面波动控制下河口沉积环境的演变。研究结果显示,本孔所在地中更新世末处于湖沼环境,但晚更新世一直以河流环境为主,且主要发育末次冰期的河道滞留相沉积。在此基础上,随着末次冰消期海平面的上升,先后发育了河口湾和三角洲沉积体系。末次冰消期的海平面快速上升在本孔沉积物记录中体现为微体古生物化石较丰富,潮流作用显著。全新世早期长江口堆积速率明显高于全新世中晚期,应当反映了温暖湿润的季风气候条件下入海泥沙非常丰富。     

玉龙山西麓更新世冰川作用及其与金沙江河谷发育的关系

在玉龙山东麓更新世冰川作用研究的基础上,对其西麓和金沙江河谷中的古冰川与冰水沉积物的分布和特征进行了调查.结合ESR测年,划分出4次冰期,即0.7～0.6MaB.P.的玉龙冰期,0.53～0.45MaB.P.的干海子冰期,0.31～0.13MaB.P.的丽江冰期和晚更新世中晚期的大理冰期,其中玉龙冰期为规模较大的山麓冰川,丽江和大理冰期为山谷冰川,干海子冰期则为山麓冰川与山谷冰川的过渡类型.来自玉龙山西坡的玉龙冰期冰碛物充填于现今金沙江谷底的事实和大具金沙江下渡口西岸早更新世金沙江砾石层的发现表明,金沙江在早更新世早期即已存在,也说明了在该段金沙江河谷中多处发现的湖相沉积物是冰川沉积堰塞河谷而成石鼓古湖的结果.在该段金沙江河谷中仅发现拔河50m左右以内的4级河流阶地,且往往以这些湖相沉积为基座的现象,则是石鼓古湖被外泄后金沙江现代河谷形成的结果.     

The Maximum Ice Age Glaciation between the Karakorum Main Ridge （K2） and the Tarim Basin and its Influence on Global Energy Balance

A modern research approach and working techniques in hitherto unexamined areas, produced the following results: 1). The tongues of decakilometre long Karakorum glaciers belong to temperate ice-streams with an annual meltwateroutput. The short Aghil glaciers on the contrary are continental, arid and cold. 2). The present-day oscillations of the Karakorum glaciers are related to their own mass, and are contrary to and independent of the actual climate. Only the short glaciers, with steep tongue fronts, show a present-day positive balance. 3). ^14C- dated Late Glacial moraines indicate a 400-800 m thick valley glacier at the former confluence point of the K2-, Sarpo Laggo- and Skamri glaciers. 4). From the evidence of transfluence passes with roches moutonn6es, striae and the limits of glacial polishing, as well as moraines and erratics, a High Glacial at least 12oo m thick ice-stream network between the Karakorums and the Kuen Lun north slopes was reconstructed. The Shaksgam and Yarkand valleys were occupied by glaciers coming from west Tibet. The lowest-lying moraines are to be found in the foreland down to 2000 m, indicating a depression of the High Glacial (LGM) snowline (ELA) by 13oo m.5). The approximately 10,000 measurements of the radiation balance at up to heights of 5500 m on K2 indicate that with incoming energy near the solar constant the reflection from snow- covered ice is up to 70% greater than from rock and rock waste surfaces.6).These results confirm for the very dry western margins of Tibet an almost complete ice sheet cover in an area with subtropical energy balance, conforming with the Ice Age hypothesis of the author which is based upon the presence of a 2.4 million km^2 Tibetan inland ice sheet. This inland ice developed for the first time when Tibet was uplifted over the snowline during the early Pleistocene. As the measured subtropical radiation balance shows, it was able to trigger the Quaternary Ice Ages.     

The geomorphic work of George Leslie Adkin (1888–1964) and glaciation in the Tararua Range, North Island, New Zealand

Abstract:  Research initiated in 1909 by G. Leslie Adkin (1888–1964) suggested Park Valley in the Tararua Range was glaciated during the Late Quaternary, based on the 'U-shaped' cross-profiles in the uppermost parts of several valleys. Findings were published, but were not met with universal acceptance. Adkin's work remained the only glacial research undertaken on the North Island's axial ranges until the latter part of the 20th century. Adkin holds a special position in New Zealand, because although he worked full-time as a farmer he published nearly 40 articles in scientific journals on topics as varied as Māori archaeology and geomorphology.