The Glacial Record

The Devensian cold stage and Holocene temperate stage did much to shape the landscape of northern England. The highlands of Scotland at this time was dominated by ice sheets while further south, independent ice caps were present over the Lake District, the Cheviot Hills and parts of the Pennines. At its maximum extent the ice covered the most of northern England. Typically, on retreat, periglacial processes modified much of the glacial landscape. The end of the Devensian glaciation is characterised by climatic fluctuation and a great deal of sediment accumulation. As we then enter the Holocene temperate stage, sea level is seen to rise, there was a reactivation of river systems, major changes in vegetation and of course human modification of the landscape.

There are many aspects of the Devensian glacial record that ought to be considered if you wish to fully understand the nature of ice ages. Suffice to say that the Devensian can be conveniently divided into an Early Devensian (115 - 50 ka), Middle Devensian (50 - 25 ka) and Late Devensian (25 - 10 ka). The Late Devensian is the part that played the pivotal role in moulding the landscape we see today. In order to understand the Ice Age, consider the following: