Introduction Lecture Flashcards
what is the origin of the NW european lowlands?
river sediments and a delta system
where does the NW lowland lie?
at the foot of the Ardennes and the Rijns Massief
when was the Cretaceous period?
145-65 million years BP
characterise the Cretaceous period
- shallow arm sea
- carbonate deposition via animals
when was the Tertiary period
65-2.6 million years BP
characterise the Tertiary period
- no sea
- techtonic uplift of the Eifel Ardennes
- subsidence of the North Sea basin
- tilting
when did the Netherlands begin tilting?
it began tilting seaward 14 million years ago
When did the Quaternary period begin?
it began 2.6 million years ago and continues to the present
characterise the Quaternary period
tilting and accumulation
which 4 rivers contributed to the NWEL?
Rhine, Meuse, Schelde and the Eridanos
what did the 4 rivers flowing into the North Sea lead to?
infilling of the North Sea basin (12 million years ago)
Why did the Eridanos disappear?
ice-sheet presence in the Scandinavian region
describe major events during the Quaternary period
- infilling of North sea basin
- large scale building of the coastal plain
- Eridanos disappears
- Rhine starts dominating
how did the Rhine start dominating?
catchment growth through river capture
when did the Saalian era begin (of the Late Pleistocene period)
150,000 years ago
