UPPER PLEISTOCENE FACIES SEQUENCES AND RELATIVE SEA-LEVEL TRENDS ALONG THE SOUTH COAST OF IRELAND

Upper Pleistocene sequences, deposited around 20 ka provide a record o f sedimentation during the last glacial/deglacial cycle along the sout h coast of Ireland. A stratigraphy based on eight lithofacies associat ions is recognized. Typically, the facies sequences overlie a glaciate d shore platform furrowed by subglacial meltwaters. Elements within th e stratigraphy comprise: (1) ice advance southwards onto the continent al shelf; (2) stagnation-zone retreat triggered by rising sea level re lated to isostatic depression coupled with subglacial meltwater events that furrowed the platform; (3) progressive rise in relative sea leve l recorded by a submergent facies sequence on an isostatically depress ed slope (beach gravels --> subaqueous jet efflux sediments --> wave-i nfluenced sands --> glaciomarine mud drape); ice-marginal oscillation is recorded by glaciotectonically deformed gravels, sands, and foliate d diamict; (4) terrestrial emergence is marked by angular breccias der ived from local slopes by periglacial weathering. There is a clear fac ies transition between the breccias and underlying wave-influenced san ds. Facies sequences suggest that the local deglacial cycle was out of phase with the global eustatic cycle along the south coast of Ireland . Stagnation zone retreat was largely dependent on magnitudes of isost atic depression, high relative sea level, and meltwater events, and no t on climatic forcing.