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 as 14C‐ 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.

A contribution to the discussion of biota dispersal with drift ice and driftwood in the North Atlantic

“…The parts of the East Greenland coast that comprise the isolated occurrences of D. sibirica and P. stipularis have been ice‐free since about 130,000 yr BP (Funder et al ., 1994). Although these isolated locations might be remnants of an old, and formerly much more continuous, circumboreal distribution, there is hitherto no macrofossil evidence for this.…”

Coastal glaciers advanced onto Jameson Land, East Greenland during the late glacial–early Holocene Milne Land Stade

“…The crystalline terrain of Liverpool Land is characterized by an alpine topography with local glaciers and small ice caps. Earlier studies have suggested that the interior of Jameson Land was ice-free during the last glacial cycle and that the last advance of the Greenland Ice Sheet overriding the peninsula occurred during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 6 (Funder et al 1994(Funder et al , 1998Mö ller et al 1994). This was based on the weathered appearance of the central plateau areas of the peninsula and the lack of glacial deposits of Weichselian age.…”

The glacial history of the southern Svartenhuk Halvø, West Greenland

“…The calibrated radiocarbon age to the north-east of the region is from Bennike [12] and represents the only Holocene shell age in the region sites throughout Svartenhuk Halvø returned aIle/Ile ratios of F = 0.182 and T = 0.0236 (12 samples) [51], and F = 0.173 and T = 0.032 (8 samples) [13], suggesting an age of [55 kyr [51]. Finally, two U/Th dates from marine shells returned ages of [89 and 115 kyr (no errors given) (quoted in [34]; as from [51]. On the basis of this chronology, sediments and macrofossil assemblages found across the Svartenhuk Halvø coastal zone were proposed to represent sediments deposited during a period of elevated sea level (*35 m a.s.l.)…”

“…The existing chronology constraining the deposits analysed in this study is based upon a number of infinite radiocarbon ages ( [30-40 14 C yrs BP) from sites close to Logs 1, 3, and 5/6 (Table 1), amino acid racemisation determinations, and U-series ages ([90 and 115 kyr BP (no errors quoted)- [34] as from [51]. This led Bennike et al [13] to assign a MIS 5e age to the shell assemblages and associated sediments.…”