ENVIRONMENTAL-CHANGE AND TEPHRA DEPOSITION - THE STRATH-OF-KILDONAN, NORTHERN SCOTLAND

Pollen analysis, tephra counts and geochemical data are presented from the upper 200 cm of a core from a basin mire in the Strath of Kildona n, northern Scotland. Three main tephra concentrations are located and tentatively dated to c. 7650 sp (K1), c. 4250 sp (K2) and 3250 sp (K3 ) by cross correlation with the regional pollen chronology. The identi ty of the tephra layers is unknown but the peak at 4250 sp may be from the Hekla 4 eruption. The associated changes in catchment soils and v egetation are highly variable. K1 is associated with a major vegetatio n disturbance but no significant change occurs at K3. K2 is correlated with a large regional rise in pine pollen. These results conflict wit h previous studies on distal impacts of volcanic activity during the H olocene and demonstrate the diversity of environmental changes associa ted with Holocene volcanic activity. (C) 1995 Academic Press Limited