THE DEVENSIAN WEICHSELIAN LATE-GLACIAL IN NORTHWEST EUROPE (IRELAND, BRITAIN, NORTH BELGIUM, THE NETHERLANDS, NORTHWEST GERMANY)

A synthesis of environmental changes during the Devensian (Weichselian ) Late-glacial period (14-9 ka BP) is presented for an area extending from Ireland in the west to northwest Germany in the east. Following a brief reference to the problems of chronology, the principal changes in geomorphology and soils, vegetation history and climate experienced in the region during the Late-glacial are described. Reconstructions of thermal variations during the Late-glacial period are attempted ind ependently for Ireland, England and Wales, Scotland (Highlands and Isl ands), north Belgium, The Netherlands and northwest Germany. The colle ctive palaeotemperature data, based mainly upon pollen data but also i n Britain and The Netherlands on coleopteran data using the 'mutual cl imatic range' approach, provide an overview of regional differences al ong an east-west transect in northwest Europe.