Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
| Online Publication Date: 24 Jun 2008
Esmark's End Moraine and the Glacial Theory from a British Perspective
Esmark's End Moraine and the Glacial Theory from a British Perspective
Page Range: 12 – 30
An end moraine (Vassryggen) and associated sandur, described by Jens Esmark as early as 1824, was the first pre-Neoglacial glacigenic landform association to be recognised as such. It formed the most important element of a range of evidence used by Esmark in support of his continental-scale glaciation hypothesis. The career of Esmark, who became a foundation professor of the Royal Frederick University in Christiania (Oslo), is outlined and his influence on the development of the glacial theory in Britain is appraised, as is the role of his associate Robert Jameson in Edinburgh. A sketch of the glacial geology of the Forsand area of southwest Norway examines the Vassryggen and allied landforms in the context of deglaciation and sea level change at the close of the Younger Dryas stadial.
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