Glacial-interglacial history of the Skaftafell region, southeast Iceland, 0-5 Ma

Volcanic strata in the Skaftafell region, southeast Ireland, record a seque nce of at least 16 glacial and interglacial intervals since 5 Ma. Two compo site sections of 2 to 2.8 km thickness have been constructed from multiple, overlapping, cliff profiles. The timing of alternating sequences of subaer ial lava flows, pillow basalts, and hyaloclastite deposits is provided by m agnetostratigraphic mapping and K-Ar radiometric dating. We find that the f requency and intensity of glaciations increased significantly at ca, 2.6 Ma , and particularly since 0.8 Ma, amplifying topographic relief in this area from <100 m to 2 km. These changes correlate with increases in global ice volume, ice-rafted debris, and development from local to regional glacial c onditions in the North Atlantic.