Quaternary Legacies in Contemporary Landscapes

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to Quaternary legacies and landscape dynamics as discussed in the lecture notes.

Quaternary period

The geological time period that started 2.6 million years ago, characterized by significant climate changes and evolution of landscapes. (Thomas and Riggs, 2008)

Anthropocene

A proposed geological epoch marking the significant impact of human activity on the Earth's geology and ecosystems. (Thomas and Riggs, 2008)

Uniformitarianism

The principle that the processes operating in the present have been the same processes that operated in the past. (Gregory and Lewin, 2014)

Erratics

Rocks that have been transported and deposited by glacier movement, differing from the local geology. (Gregory and Lewin, 2014)

Milankovitch cycles

Variations in Earth's orbital characteristics that result in changes in climate and can influence glacial and interglacial periods. These cycles include changes in the Earth's eccentricity, axial tilt, and precession.

 

Devensian Glaciation

A glacial period in the British Isles occurring roughly 110,000 to 12,000 years ago, characterized by the expansion of ice.

Velocities of glacial ice

The speed at which glacial ice moves, influenced by gravity, temperature, and the underlying geology. (Thomas and Riggs, 2008)

Dune memory

The concept that coastal and desert dunes retain evidence of past environmental conditions, influenced by historical processes. (Thomas and Riggs, 2008)

Hydrological indicators

Natural phenomena or landforms, such as lake shorelines, used to understand historical water levels and climate changes. (Thomas and Wiggs, 2008)

Atmospheric dust

Fine particles in the atmosphere that are significant for climate systems and can be influenced by Quaternary climate changes. (Thomas and Riggs, 2008)

some context

• (Thomas and Wiggs, 2008)

  

Evolving ideas about environmental change

• (Thomas and Wiggs, 2008)

  

Agassiz ‘Great Ice Period’ Theory

• (Thomas and Wiggs, 2008)

  

Development of glacial theory

• (Thomas and WIggs, 2008)

  

Development of glacial theory into global change theory

 

 

Impacts of change can be spatially complex

what are landform changes proxies of?

relevance of quaternary legacies

• (Thomas and Wiggs, 2008)