The interglacial-glacial record at the mouth of Scoresby Sund, East Greenland |
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| Authors: | JAN MANGEKUD SVEND FUNDER |
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| Institution: | Department of Geology University of Bergen, Allégt. 41, N-5007 Bergen. Norway;Geological Museum, University of Copenhagen, Østervoldgade 5–7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark |
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| Abstract: | The sedimentary record around outer Scorcsby Sund begins with the Scorcsby Sund glaciation (≅ isotope stage 6), but is incomplete. Both at Kap Hope, headward of the fjord mouth, and at Kikiakajik on the outer coast. there are shallow marine sediments, correlated with the Langelandselv interglaciation (≅ isotope substagc 5e) on the basis of molluse assemblages and luminescence dates. Abundant Balanus crenatus , and several bivalves. show that thc adveetion of warm Atlantic water to the East Greenland coast was higher during that interglacial than during the Holocenc. Glacial striae at Kap Brewster (facing the open ocean) and till on top of the interglacial beds at Kikiakajik show that both an outlet from the Greenland Iee Sheet, and more local glaciers reached the continental shelf during the Weichselian. This glacial event is poorly dated. but tentatively correlated with the Flakkerhuk stade (≅ 19 15 ka BP) when, from marine geological data, it is suggested that thc Scoresby Sund glacier terminated c . 30 km east of Kap Brewster. During the Milne Land stade ( c . 10 ka BP) there was a resurgence of local ice caps in the mountains both north and south of the fjord mouth, but Scoresby Sund and Hall Bredning probably remained free of glaciers. Dating of these events was achieved through Iuminescence- (TL and OSL) and the 14C-method. and biostratigraphical and amino acid correliition Interglacial shells on thc outer coast show much lower amino acid D/L ratios than shells of the same age within the Scoresby Sund area. This may indicate that the outer coast remained free of ice cover and marine inundation much longer, arid suffered colder temperatures than areas along the fjord. |
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