TY - JOUR

T1 - Deglaciation of the Scoresby Sund fjord region, north-east Greenland

AU - Funder, Svend Visby

PY - 1972

Y1 - 1972

N2 - ABSTRACT. The Scoresby Sund region contains some of the world's deepest fjords. The distribution of ice in the region during the Weichselian maximum is not yet known, but in Late Weichselian time the coastal parts were ice-free. For the Post glacial period, four phases of deglaciation have been distinguished: (I) The Milne Land Stage ( ?Younger Dryas and Pre-Boreal) comprises some distinct advances of the fjord glaciers; the ad vances were followed by a period of recession. (2) In the Radefjord Stage (7500-6700 BP), the fjord glaciers receded intermittently; probably the recession was interrupted by a short period of advance at the end of the period. (3) The Post-glacial warm period (c. 7000-5000 BP) was a time when the glaciers retreated behind their present limits. A warm climate is indicated by the presence of the now-extinct bivalves Mytillls edulis and Chlamys islandica in raised marine deposits. (4) Historical time is marked by are-advance. The deglaciation of the region was greatly influenced by relief. This is reflected in the location of the glacier fronts during the major stages and the differences in the behaviour of neighbouring fjord glaciers. The fjord morphology probably also explains some of the differences between the history of deglaciation in this region and that in West Greenland.

AB - ABSTRACT. The Scoresby Sund region contains some of the world's deepest fjords. The distribution of ice in the region during the Weichselian maximum is not yet known, but in Late Weichselian time the coastal parts were ice-free. For the Post glacial period, four phases of deglaciation have been distinguished: (I) The Milne Land Stage ( ?Younger Dryas and Pre-Boreal) comprises some distinct advances of the fjord glaciers; the ad vances were followed by a period of recession. (2) In the Radefjord Stage (7500-6700 BP), the fjord glaciers receded intermittently; probably the recession was interrupted by a short period of advance at the end of the period. (3) The Post-glacial warm period (c. 7000-5000 BP) was a time when the glaciers retreated behind their present limits. A warm climate is indicated by the presence of the now-extinct bivalves Mytillls edulis and Chlamys islandica in raised marine deposits. (4) Historical time is marked by are-advance. The deglaciation of the region was greatly influenced by relief. This is reflected in the location of the glacier fronts during the major stages and the differences in the behaviour of neighbouring fjord glaciers. The fjord morphology probably also explains some of the differences between the history of deglaciation in this region and that in West Greenland.

M3 - Journal article

VL - 4

SP - 33

EP - 42

JO - Institute of British Geographers, special publications

JF - Institute of British Geographers, special publications

ER -