Abstract
Glacial geomorphology relating to the Loch Lomond Stadial (Younger Dryas) in Britain is used to construct five glacial landsystem models. These landsystems lie on a continuum of increasing ice thickness and decreasing topographic control and typify the principal styles of glaciation during the stadial. The landsystems comprise: the cirque/niche glacier landsystem, the alpine icefield landsystem, the lowland piedmont lobe landsystem, the plateau icefield landsystem and the icecap landsystem. Geomorphological features representing the icecap landsystem are present only at the centre of the West Highland Glacier Complex, which was flanked primarily by satellite alpine and plateau icefields. The cirque/niche glacier landsystem was present predominantly in areas that experienced conditions only marginally favourable for glacier development at peripheral sites. Three styles of glacier retreat are recorded by the geomorphology: active, two‐phase and uninterrupted retreat. Of these, active retreat appears to be most widespread within the Loch Lomond Stadial limits. These retreat styles reflect a combination of climatic and topographic conditions, coupled with local factors influencing the preservation of landforms from which retreat dynamics can be inferred. Likewise, the distribution of landsystems was influenced by an interplay between topography and climate, with glacier formation being facilitated in locations where topographical conditions aided in the accumulation of snow. The pattern also supports the existence of previously recognized northward and eastward precipitation gradients across Britain during the stadial.
Highlights
IntroductionIn Britain, the period, known locally as the Loch Lomond Stadial (LLS), was characterized by glacier regrowth in the form of a large icefield (over 9000 km2) over much of the western Highlands of Scotland, and other satellite icefields, valley and cirque glaciers in upland areas of Scotland, England and Wales (Golledge 2010; Ballantyne 2012)
Glacial geomorphology relating to the Loch Lomond Stadial (Younger Dryas) in Britain is used to construct five glacial landsystem models
It should be noted that the timing of the maximum extent of Loch Lomond Stadial (LLS) glaciation is controversial and, whilst this paper presents a reconstruction of the maximum extent of the LLS ice masses, chronological control on their termini is extremely limited
Summary
In Britain, the period, known locally as the Loch Lomond Stadial (LLS), was characterized by glacier regrowth in the form of a large icefield (over 9000 km2) over much of the western Highlands of Scotland, and other satellite icefields, valley and cirque glaciers in upland areas of Scotland, England and Wales (Golledge 2010; Ballantyne 2012). The published literature on the glacial geomorphology of the LLS in Britain was compiled into a GIS database and glacial map (Bickerdike et al 2016) This database has, for the first time, permitted the geomorphology of the total extent of the LLS glaciers to be assessed at scales varying from within individual valleys to across whole icefields. It has facilitated comparison of the geomorphology between different regions and has allowed patterns in the style of glaciation and the nature of retreat of these glaciers to be identified
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