The coastal landslides of Shetland

Ballantyne, Colin K.; Dawson, Sue; Ryan, Dick; Fabel, Derek; Kralikaite, Emilija; Milne, F.; Sandeman, Graeme F.; Xu, Sheng

doi:10.1080/14702541.2018.1457169

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…A supplementary Inventory for Shetland has 28 on diverse lithologies, of which three are large; some are noted on BGS mapping. Ballantyne et al (2018) identify 128 mainly sub-RSF features, with 13 'deep-seated failures'. Some cliff sites are exposed to the Atlantic or North…”

Section: Coastal Cliff Rsf -Kintyre Shetlandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rock slope failure in the British mountains

Jarman¹,

Harrison

2019

Geomorphology

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In this first full review of extant Quaternary Rock Slope Failure (RSF) in the British mountains, we provide a near-complete inventory of 1082 sites, 40% being rock slope deformations, 40% arrested rockslides, and 20% rock avalanches. Current RSFactivity is negligible, and this relict population is predominantly paraglacial, with a parafluvial minority. Its spatial distribution is perplexing, with RSF density varying greatly, both regionally and locally. In the Scottish Highlands, eight main clusters account for 76% of RSF area in 15% of the montane area. Local concentrations occur in all the British ranges, across high and low relief, in core and peripheral locations, and on varied geological and glaciological domains; as conversely do extensive areas of sparsity, even in similar lithologies. Generic interpretations are thus precluded. Geology is only a secondary control. An association with Concentrated Erosion of Bedrock (CEB) is proposed, as a driver of intensified slope stresses. CEB is most evident at those glacial breaches of main divides where the most vigorous recent incision is inferred, and also in some trough-heads. A clear association between RSFs and these 'late-developing' breaches is demonstrated in the Highlands, in 42 localities, with sparsity away from them. It is also seen in seven Lake District localities. Glaciological models identify ice sheet volatility capable of driving breach ramification. High-magnitude paleoseismic events are generally unlikely to have provoked RSF clusters; a few candidates are considered. RSF has been underrated as an agent of mountain landscape evolution in Britain; its spatio-temporal incidence may assist in calibrating regional ice sheet models, and in assessing climate change impacts. We argue that the CEB:RSF association has global relevance in identifying primary drivers of mass movement in bedrock.

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Section: Coastal Cliff Rsf -Kintyre Shetlandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rock slope failure in the British mountains

Jarman¹,

Harrison

2019

Geomorphology

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“…2006; Ballantyne et al . 2018), but without any physical evidence from seafloor mapping (Long 2015). Based on their limited size, none of the post‐Storegga slides known north of the Shetlands seems capable of triggering a tsunami (Haflidason et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A source for the Dury Voe tsunami has not yet been identified. A local coastal or submarine landslide has been discussed (Bondevik et al 2005;Dawson et al 2006;Ballantyne et al 2018), but without any physical evidence from seafloor mapping (Long 2015). Based on their limited size, none of the post-Storegga slides known north of the Shetlands seems capable of triggering a tsunami (Haflidason et al 2005;Smith et al 2019).…”

Section: Timing and Trigger Of The Tsunamimentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sedimentary evidence of the Late Holocene tsunami in the Shetland Islands (UK) at Loch Flugarth, northern Mainland

Engel,

Hess,

Dawson

et al. 2023

Boreas

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Tsunami deposits around the North Sea basin are needed to assess the long‐term hazard of tsunamis. Here, we present sedimentary evidence of the youngest tsunami on the Shetland Islands from Loch Flugarth, a coastal lake on northern Mainland. Three gravity cores show organic‐rich background sedimentation with many sub‐centimetre‐scale sand layers, reflecting recurring storm overwash and a sediment source limited to the active beach and uppermost subtidal zone. A basal 13‐cm‐thick sand layer, dated to 426–787 cal. a CE based on 14C, 137Cs and Bayesian age–depth modelling, was found in all cores. High‐resolution grain‐size analysis identified four normally graded or massive sublayers with inversely graded traction carpets at the base of two sublayers. A thin organic‐rich ‘mud’ drape and a ‘mud’ cap cover the two uppermost sublayers, which also contain small rip‐up clasts. Grain‐size distributions show a difference between the basal sand layer and the coarser and better sorted storm layers above. Multivariate statistical analysis of X‐ray fluorescence core scanning data also distinguishes both sand units: Zr, Fe and Ti dominate the thick basal sand, while the thin storm layers are high in K and Si. Enriched Zr and Ti in the basal sand layer, in combination with increased magnetic susceptibility, may be related to higher heavy mineral content reflecting an additional marine sediment source below the storm‐wave base that is activated by a tsunami. Based on reinterpretation of chronological data from two different published sites and the chronostratigraphy of the present study, the tsunami seems to date to c. 1400 cal. a BP. Although the source of the tsunami remains unclear, the lack of evidence for this event outside of the Shetland Islands suggests that it had a local source and was smaller than the older Storegga tsunami (8.15 cal. ka BP), which affected most of the North Sea basin.

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“…The wider role of landslides in coastal evolution also needs to be assessed (Ballantyne et al . 2018). Another consideration is that coastal evolution is conditioned not only by processes at the coast but also by events inland delivering spatially variable sediment supplies from river catchments to be reorganised at the coast.…”

Section: Assessment Of Progress In Auditing Key Sites For Quaternary mentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in Quaternary studies and geomorphology in Scotland: implications for geoconservation

Gordon¹,

Brazier

Hansom³

et al. 2019

Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Socie

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Quaternary deposits and landforms are an integral component of Scotland's geodiversity and natural heritage with intrinsic, scientific, educational, cultural, aesthetic and ecological values. Their conservation is founded on the assessment and safeguard of key protected areas principally for their scientific values. The evaluation of site networks for Quaternary deposits and landforms (including glacial, fluvial, coastal, mass movement, karst and cave features) has evolved since the late 1940s, culminating in the Great Britain Geological Conservation Review (GCR) site assessments undertaken principally between 1977 and the early 1990s. Significant scientific progress since then has arisen, for example, from re-investigation of existing sites and discoveries of new sites, developments in geochronology and the formulation and application of new concepts and models. Both the GCR site lists and the supporting site documentation now require updating in the light of this progress. Today there is greater emphasis on the wider, non-scientific values of geoconservation including, for example, on ecosystem services, links with biodiversity and cultural heritage, geotourism and the benefits for human health and wellbeing through improved understanding of dynamic landscapes, climate change and natural hazards. Involvement of wider public support beyond the geoscience community and fostering better integration of geoheritage within the developing nature conservation agenda, including a land systems approach, protected area planning and management, natural capital and connecting people and nature, will help further to protect our Quaternary geoheritage.

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The coastal landslides of Shetland

Cited by 11 publications

References 51 publications

Rock slope failure in the British mountains

Rock slope failure in the British mountains

Sedimentary evidence of the Late Holocene tsunami in the Shetland Islands (UK) at Loch Flugarth, northern Mainland

Advances in Quaternary studies and geomorphology in Scotland: implications for geoconservation

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