Late Weichselian Vegetation and Ice-Front Oscillations in the Bergen District, Western Norway

Mangerud, J. 1970. Late Weichselian Vegetation and Ice-Front Oscillations in the Bergen District, Western Norway. Norsk geogr. Tidsskr. 24, 121-148. The published pollen diagram spans the Late Weichselian and Early Flandrian (Holocene) Age. Grass tundra formed the vegetation during the Older Dryas and Early Alleröd. The vegetation of the Later Alleröd can be characterised as park tundra, with tree birches and willow (Salix) scrub. The summer temperature of the Late Alleröd is assumed to have been 2-2.5° C lower than at the present day. During the climatic deterioration of the Younger Dryas, birch (Betula) suffered a major setback. The ice-front oscillation during the Late Weichselian is clarified, mainly on the basis of fossiliferous till and sediments below till. The ice-front retreated during the mild interstadials, Bölling and Alleröd, whilst there were marked advances during the Older and Younger Dryas. The final section deals with the general principles underlying a stratigraphic subdivision of the Late Quaternary.