Abstract
A geomorphological investigation is made of the raised shorelines
of Jura, Scarba and NE Islay, Scottish Inner Hebrides. The raised
shore features consist of various terraces, beach ridges and coastal
platforms. Ground levelling of approximately h,000 points indicates
a complex sequence of inter-, late- and postglacial shoreline
displacement.
In order to understand more clearly the origin of raised coastal
terraces and beach ridges and their altitude relationships to former
sea-levels a study of modern coastal landforms was undertaken.
Particular attention is paid to the origin and regional altitude
distribution of modern beach ridges and the seaweed Pelvetia
canaliculatus.
Much attention is devoted to the nature, age and origin of several
raised coastal platforms. Consideration of these features is preceded
by a discussion, on the nature of platform development in polar and
non-polar areas. A discussion of strandflat origin is also presented.
Case studies of several prominent glacial landforms in the study area
are included. The results of these investigations are combined with a
limited study of glacial striae and erratics in a discussion of
regional glaciation and deglaciation. The results of the glacial landform
studies in conjunction with those obtained from raised shoreline
investigations indicate a complex pattern of deglaciation.
