Late Devensian and early Flandrian vegetational history and deglacial chronology of Western Argyll

The study attempted to assess, through the analysis of critically located pollen sites, the vegetational history of a region between Loch Etive and the Cowal Peninsula during the Lateglacial and early-postglacial periods, and to reconcile the varied reconstructions of Loch Lomond Readvance glaciers, proposed on geomorphic data, in the light of the palynological evidence. Two Lateglacial biostratigraphies were examined by relative and pollen concentration techniques. These suggest that trees were not established in western Scotland during the late-glacial Interstadial, possibly due to factors of exposure, While a climatic deterioration is recognised at both sites during the interstadial (c. 12,000 B.P.). Loch Lomond Stadial pollen spectra are sub-zoned at both sites, and it is suggested that the later part of the stadial became increasingly arid. One site was C 14 dated, but results showed errors due, perhaps, to graphite in shallow till in the catchment. The early postglacial pollen sequence was examined in detail with regard to the consistency of representation of pollen-types, possible syncroneity and environmental determinants. This vegetational succession at six postglacial sites in the Awe valley is then employed to examine the potential of pollen data in determining the rate of deglaciation of Loch Lamond Readvance glaciers.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

City of London Polytechnic

Year dc:date.issued

1984

Author dc:creator

• Tipping, R. M.

• 550 - Earth Sciences
• 560 Paleontology; paleozoology

Dc Identifier Grantnumber

N/A

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.londonmet.ac.uk:7668