| title: | The last continental glacier in Estonia: its dynamics and chronology of retreat |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF5342 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
1.10-1.16. Bio-Geo Sciences |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | Institute of Geology at Tallinn Technical University |
| duration: | 01.01.2003 - 31.12.2006 |
| description: | Using the most recent palaeoglaciological models a new reconstruction of Last-glacial environmental conditions is presented. Geological structure of ice streams and ice divide areas separating these streams is compared. Conclusions, better grounded than the hitherto ones, concerning the genesis of glacial accumulative insular heights characteristic of the Baltic countries are drawn. The formation mechanism of ice-marginal belts identified in Estonia so far, and the validity of the correlation of these formations is assessed. The share of glaciotectonics in the structure of sediments and bedrock is evaluated. The reliability of different dating methods (14C, varve chronology, ESR, TL, OSL, 10Be, etc.) in the conditions of Estonia is evaluated with special attention on the correlation of varve years, conventional and dendrochronologically corrected 14C years. OSL dating of glaciofluvial deltas and 10Be dating of glacial boulders situated on ice-marginal formations provides new geochronological data about the retreat of the last glacier. Comparing and critically analysing the results obtained with different methods, for the first time in Estonia an attempt is made to create a solar-time based Late-glacial chronological scale, which is also needed for the representatives of related sciences (archaeology, palaeobiology, etc.). Based on the new glaciodynamic reconstruction and geochronological scale resulting from the present research, conclusions are drawn on the alterations of palaeoenvironment, and the correlation of the ice marginal formations with neighbouring areas around the Baltic Sea is revised. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Katrin Erg | Inst.Geol. at TTU | PhD student | |
| 2. | Reet Karukäpp | Inst.Geol. at TTU | sen.researcher | |
| 3. | Avo Miidel | Inst.Geol. at TTU | sen. researcher | |
| 4. | Anto Raukas | Institute of Geology at Tallinn Technical University | Head of department | |
| 5. | Elvi Tavast | Inst. Geol. at TTU | sen. researcher | |