Late Devensian and holocene relative sea-level change around Ireland

Abstract

Late Devensian and Holocene Relative Sea-Level Change Around Ireland. All records of Irish sea level since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) reflect the interplay of both glacio-isostatic and eustatic components with the isostatic signature being derived from the lithospheric response to local, regional and extra-regional ice cover. In addition to providing valuable information in their own right, relative sea level (RSL) data are powerful tools in the wider study of glaciation, climate change and Earth structure. Their intimate link with glacio isostatic adjustment (GIA) and eustatic sea level means that they contain within them information regarding former ice extent, thickness and melting history, as well as data pertaining to the physical structure of the Earth and its response to loading. This information can be distilled through the combination of RSL data and geophysical modelling. This thesis can be defined by three main interrelated research objectives: Firstly, the compilation and examination of existing published RSL information and the tabulation of this information into a standardized sea-level database. Secondly, the collection of empirical data in the form of 'sea level index points’ derived from sedimentary archives found along the west coast of Ireland. Finally, the development of a new model of the Irish Ice Sheet through the iterative procedure of glacial rebound modelling. The sea-level database presented in this thesis is a first attempt at compiling a standardized sea- level database for Ireland, which is consistent with established protocols for the evaluation of sea- level information. The available data are of varied quality, yet limitations associated with this are mitigated by applying a rigorous appraisal of data errors and the consequent adoption of a quality tier system.