Page:The Journal of geology (IA journalofgeology11893univ).pdf/104
epoch. Its work is represented in Britain by the upper boulder clay, in Scandinavia and Germany by the lower diluvium (in part), in central Russia by the upper glacial series, in Alpine lands by ground moraines and gravel terraces. The ice sheets of Scandinavia and Britain were again confluent, but did not extend quite so far south as during the second glacial epoch. This third glacial epoch is believed to have been followed by another interglacial interval, during which fresh water alluvia, lignite and peat accumulations were made. These are represented by the interglacial beds of north Germany, and by some of the so-called postglacial alluvia of Britain. There were also marine deposits on the coasts of Britain and on the borders of the Baltic. During this interglacial interval, Britain is believed to have been continental. The climate was temperate, but in the course of time became more severe. This increasing severity seems to have been accompanied by submergence, which amounted to something like 100 ft. below the present sea-level on the coasts of Scotland. The Baltic provinces of Germany were also invaded by the waters of the North Sea.
4. There followed a fourth period of glaciation, during which the major part of the Scottish Highland was covered by an ice sheet. Local ice sheets existed in the southern uplands of Scotland and in mountain districts in other parts of Britain, and the great valley glaciers sometimes coalesced on the low lands. Icebergs floated out at the mouths of some of the highland sea-lochs. In some places, terminal moraines were deposited upon marine beds which were then in the process of formation. These beds are now 100 ft. above the sea level. At this time Scandinavia was covered by a great ice sheet, which yielded icebergs to the sea along the whole west coast of Norway. The ground moraines and terminal moraines of the mountain regions of Britain represent the deposits of this ice epoch. The upper diluvium of Scandinavia, Finland, and north Germany represent the work of the contemporaneous, but not confluent, ice sheet of the continent. In the Alps, terminal moraines in the large longitudinal valleys were made at the same time.
This fourth glacial epoch was followed by a fourth interglacial interval, during which fresh water alluvia deposits were made, and also the "lower buried forest and peat" of Britain and north-western Europe. At this time, Scotland seems to have stood 45 to 50 feet lower than now, and Carse clays and raised beaches represent the work of the sea. During this interglacial interval, Britain is