PERMAFROST DISTRIBUTION AND TEMPERATURES IN EUROPE DURING THE YOUNGERDRYAS

Permafrost distribution and temperatures in Europe during the Younger Dryas stadial are reconstructed based on an assessment of periglacial phenomena attributed to this cold interval. The significance of immatu re ice-wedge casts showing characteristics of both ice-wedge casts and frost cracks is discussed. Careful evaluation of periglacial features enables quantification of the mean annual air temperature and mean te mperature of the coldest month. Results suggest that, during the colde st part of the Younger Dryas, continuous permafrost existed north of s imilar to 54 degrees N (i.e. in Fennoscandia and the northern part of the British Isles and Ireland). Mean annual air temperatures at sea le vel near or below -8 degrees C and mean temperatures of the coldest mo nth well below -20 degrees C are deduced for this zone. Discontinuous permafrost was present between 54 degrees N and 50 degrees N (i.e. in central and southern England and Ireland, The Netherlands, upland Belg ium, northern Germany and Poland). It is suggested that in this zone m ean annual air temperatures were between -8 degrees C and -1 degrees C , with mean temperatures of the coldest month above -20 degrees C. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.