ECEC - 1

Question 1

What are interstadials and stadials with respect the devensian cold stage?

Answer 1

Interstadials - periods of temporarily warm conditions
Stadials - embedded periods of cold conditions
Devensian - generally cold but considerable temp fluctuation

Question 2

Describe the chelford interstadial

Answer 2

• 60,000 BP
• rich vertebrate fauna
• dominated by birch, pine and spruce
• feb temp = -10
• July temp = 16

Question 3

Describe the Upton warren interstadial complex

Answer 3

• 42,000BP - 38,0000 BP
• July mean of 16
• cold winters of -15
• species rich flora but no trees (possibly because of cold winter and herbivores) - thermophilous species and arctic alpines - dwarf willows and birch
• rich vertebrate fauna

Question 4

Describe the Dimlington stadial

Answer 4

• 21,000 BP
• long period of cold
• extensive ice sheets
• a lot of large herbivores eradicated or forced south
• few mammoths remained

Question 5

Describe the Windermere interstadial

Answer 5

• 13,000 BP
• rapid climatic warming - reduction in ice caps
• more trees and continuous woodland
• park tundra vegetation (shrubs and trees)
• pine woods in the south and East

Question 6

Describe the Loch Lomond stadial

Answer 6

• return to colder conditions for 1000 years
• July mean temp = 10-12
• possibly caused by disruption of the gulf stream
• ended with very rapid temp rise
• patch perma frost and tundra
• birch and pine survived

Question 7

what is the order of the 5 stadials/interstadials from before 10000 years ago (devensian cold stage)

Answer 7

1) chelford interstadial
2) Upton warren interstadial
3) dimlington stadial
4) windermere interstadial
5) Loch Lomond stadial

Question 8

what do zones 1-3 of the sub division of the post glacial period equate to?

Answer 8

zone 1 = pre windermere
zone 2 = windermere interstadial
zone 3 = Loch Lomond interstadial

Question 9

what is the sub division of the post glacial period based on?

Answer 9

the stratigraphy of peatlands

Question 10

Describe zone 4 of the post glacial period

Answer 10

• post glacial birch zone
• sub arctic climate
• birch dominant
• willlows/juniper and some pine restricted to the south

Question 11

Describe zone 5 of the post glacial period

Answer 11

• hazel - pine - birch period

- pollen evidence for warm loving trees

Question 12

Describe zone 6 of the post glacial period

Answer 12

• hazel pine period

- pine abundant everywhere

Question 13

describe zone 7 of the post glacial period

Answer 13

• alder/ mixed oak period
• forest maximum in Britain
• lime reaches peak

Question 14

describe zone 8 of the post glacial period

Answer 14

• alder- birch - oak - beech period
• cooler and wetter
• lime declines

Question 15

what was the climate of the forest maximum like?

Answer 15

• the Atlantic period was the climatic optimum of the post glacial period
• warm and wet
• temps were 2.5 degrees higher than today

Question 16

what are the dates of the devensian cold stage?

Answer 16

115,000BP - 10,000BP

Question 17

what 2 scientists proposed the sub division of the post glacial period?

Answer 17

Axel Blytt and Rolf Sernander

Question 18

what are the 5 period, the dates and their suggested climates of the post glacial sub division?

Answer 18

1) pre boreal - sub arctic - 9500 BC
2) boreal - warmer and dry - 7600 BC
3) atlantic - warm and wet (oceanic) -5500 BC
4) sub - boreal - warm and dry (continental) - 3000 BC
5) sub atlantic - cool and wet (oceanic) - 500 BC

Question 19

what are the 1-5 goodwin zones linking with the 5 periods?

Answer 19

1) pre boreal - IV
2) Boreal - V, VI
3) Atlantic - VIIa
4) sub - boreal - VIIb
5) sub - atlantic - VIII

Question 20

describe the distribution of the trees in the forest maximum?

Answer 20

Birch - restricted to Northern Scotland
Pine in northern upland and western (wetter regions)
Oak northern / central / west
South & east – thermophilous
species