THE LAST GLACIAL CYCLES IN EAST GREENLAND, AN OVERVIEW

Marine, fluvial and glacigene sediments exposed in coastal cliffs and stream-cut sections in East Greenland between latitudes 69 degrees and 78 degrees N display a record of Quaternary climatic and environmenta l change going back to pre-Saalian times (> 240 ka), but with main emp hasis on the last interglacial/glacial cycle. The stratigraphical sche me is based on studies on the Jameson Land peninsula, and contains fiv e glacial stages and stades with the Greenland ice sheet or its outlet s reaching the outer coasts. Individual sites are correlated and dated by a combination of biostratigraphy, luminescence dating, amino acid analyses, as well as C-14- and uranium series dating. The pre-Weichsel ian Lollandselv and Scoresby Sund glaciations were the most extensive. During the Weichselian the Inland Ice margin in this part of East Gre enland was apparently very stable. The Aucellaelv, Jyllandselv and Fla kkerhuk stades mark the advance and subsequent retreat of outlet glaci ers from the Inland Ice which advanced through the wide Scoresby Sund basin and reached the inner shelf. In-between the glacier advances, th ree interglacial or interstadial periods have been recognized. During the Langelandselv interglaciation (approximate to Eemian) the advectio n of warm Atlantic water was higher than during the Holocene, and the terrestrial flora and insect faunas show that summer temperatures were 3-4 degrees C higher than during the Holocene optimum. There is no un ambiguous evidence for cooling in the sediments from this interval. La ter, in isotope stage 5, there were apparently two ice-free periods. D uring the Hugin So interstade, stable Polar water dominated Scoresby S und, and the terrestrial flora suggests summer temperatures 2 degrees- 3 degrees lower than the present. The marine and fluvial sediments fro m the second ice-free period, the Monselv interstade, are devoid of or ganic remains.