Enhanced rock-slope failure following ice-sheet deglaciation : timing and causes

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

BALLANTYNE, C.K.

School of Geography and Geosciences, Univ., St Andrews, Royaume-Uni

WILSON, P.

School of Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Ulster, Coleraine, Royaume-Uni

GHEORGHIU, D.

NERC Cosmogenic Isotope Analysis Facility, SUERC, East Kilbride, Royaume-Uni

RODÉS, À

NERC Cosmogenic Isotope Analysis Facility, SUERC, East Kilbride, Royaume-Uni

Description :
The AA. test competing models through beryllium-10 (10Be) exposure dating of 5 closely-spaced quartzite RSFs on the Isle of Jura, Scotland, to establish the relationship between timing of failure and those of deglaciation, episodes of rapid warming and periods of rapid glacio-isostatic uplift. It is highlighted that debuttressing as an immediate cause of failure is excluded. Thaw of permafrost ice in joints is unlikely to have been a prime trigger of failure as some RSFs occurred several centuries after the onset of interstadial warming. Conversely, the timespan of the RSFs coincides with the period of maximum glacio-isostatic crustal uplift, suggesting that failure was triggered by uplift-driven seismic events acting on fractured rock masses. The AA. conclude about the implications of this and related research.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 2014, vol. 39, n°. 7, p. 900-913, nombre de pages : 14, Références bibliographiques : 3 p.

Date :
2014

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley

Langue :
Anglais