Late devensian ice sheet in the western Grampians, Scotland

• Published in: Journal of Quaternary Science
• Main Author: Thorp, Peter W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1987
• Subjects: Ice Sheet
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3390020204; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fjqs.3390020204; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jqs.3390020204

Abstract A radial pattern of ice flow of the last ice sheet in the largest source area of ice (c. 5000 km 2 ) in the British Isles in western Scotland is demonstrated by the dispersal of indicator erratics and by patterns of striae, friction cracks and ice‐moulded landforms. Three major ice domes and the principal ice divide are identified in the western Grampians. The ice domes coincided with the highest mountain blocks while it is inferred that the alignment of many of the pre‐existing valleys controlled much of the outflow of ice, forming ice streams within the ice sheet. The importance of the Rannoch Moor basin as a radial provider of ice to surrounding areas was apparently less significant than has hitherto been considered. Ice flowed into and across the southern part of the basin from the principal ice divide located to the west and south. No evidence has yet been found that would support a model of an eastward‐migrating ice divide either during the build‐up or during the deglaciation of the Late Devensian ice sheet.