The last glacial cycles in East Greenland, an overview

Abstract

Marine, fluvial and glacigene sediments exposed in coastal cliffs and stream‐cut sections in East Greenland between latitudes 69° and 78° N display a record of Quaternary climatic and environmental change going back to pre‐Saalian times (> 240 ka), but with main emphasis on the last interglacial/glacial cycle. The stratigraphical scheme is based on studies on the Jameson Land peninsula, and contains five glacial stages and stades with the Greenland ice sheet or its outlets reaching the outer coasts. Individual sites are correlated and dated by a combination of biostratigraphy, luminescence dating, amino acid analyses, as well as14C‐ and uranium series dating. The pre‐Weichselian Lollandselv and Scoresby Sund glaciations were the most extensive. During the Weichselian the Inland Ice margin in this part of East Greenland was apparently very stable. The Aucellaelv, Jyllandselv and Flakkerhuk stades mark the advance and subsequent retreat of outlet glaciers from the Inland Ice which advanced through the wide Scoresby Sund basin and reached the inner shelf. In‐between the glacier advances, three interglacial or interstadial periods have been recognized. During the Langelandselv interglacia‐tion (≅ Eemian) the advection of warm Atlantic water was higher than during the Holocene, and the terrestrial flora and insect faunas show that summer temperatures were 3–4°C higher than during the Holocene optimum. There is no unambiguous evidence for cooling in the sediments from this interval. Later, in isotope stage 5, there were apparently two ice‐free periods. During the Hugin Sø interstade, stable Polar water dominated Scoresby Sund, and the terrestrial flora suggests summer temperatures 2° ‐3° lower than the present. The marine and fluvial sediments from the second ice‐free period, the Mønselv interstade, are devoid of organic remains.