Project findings provide essential insight into the last British–Irish ice sheet
Understanding more about the north-west European continental shelf and improving forecasting for the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets.
29/09/2022 By BGS Press![BRITICE-CHRONO team in conversation on board RRS James Cook](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BRITICE_project_team.jpg)
A paper marking the culmination of a highly successful project into a former ice sheet is helping researchers to understand more about the north-west European continental shelf. It’s also helping improve forecasting for the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets.
The five-year, £3.7 million BRITICE-CHRONO consortium, funded by NERC, took on the most ambitious geochronological project yet, encompassing on- and offshore mapping around the British Isles to better describe and understand the growth and decay of the last British–Irish ice sheet.
BRITICE research included 1500 days of field investigation yielding 18 000 km of marine geophysical data, 377 cores of sea-floor sediment and geomorphological and stratigraphical information at over one hundred sites on land. This enabled the generation of 690 new geochronometric ages, which were collected to understand the timings, coverage and retreat of the British–Irish ice sheet and to provide a geochronological framework between 31 000 and 15 000 years ago.
![BRITICE-CHRONO voyages around a former ice sheet](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BRITICE_voyages_map-794x960.jpg)
Voyages around a former ice sheet. © BRITICE-CHRONO
The findings bear a strong similarity to the dynamics and evolving configuration in the Antarctic today, enabling scientists to refine and improve current ice sheet modelling approaches. It will also aid researchers investigating regional palaeoenvironments as well as those working on offshore development (e.g. offshore renewables) and marine management.
BGS is proud to have played a role in this important project. The paper compiles and distils many of the detailed findings from the onshore work and offshore transects of the project and will serve as a useful resource to inform and expand on current knowledge on the evolution of the British–Irish ice sheet.
Dayton Dove, BGS Marine Geoscientist.
BGS scientists participated in and contributed to the project by providing expertise, data and information to support planning, implementation and interpretation of survey and project results. The offshore coring was also carried out by BGS engineering teams.
Two reconstructions of the ice sheet were developed: an empirical version and one that combines modelling and the new empirical evidence. Palaeoglaciological maps of ice extent, thickness, velocity and flow geometry at thousand-year time intervals were also produced.
The paper, Growth and retreat of the last British–Irish Ice Sheet, 31 000 to 15 000 years ago: the BRITICE-CHRONO reconstruction, was published in BOREAS.
Relative topics
Related news
![Landslide aftermath. © Timo Volz, Unsplash](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/landslide-aftermath-timo-volz-unsplash.webp)
Studying multi-hazards from space
25/07/2024
A new European Space Agency-funded project will study the effect earthquakes have on occurrences of other natural hazards in the long-term.
![Scottish river in low flow. © Paul Glendell](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/scottish-river-in-low-flow.webp)
Warnings for Scottish farmers and distillers as new data indicates climate change may double number of droughts
23/07/2024
The agricultural and distilling sectors could face significant challenges after research finds the number of droughts in Scotland may double in the next 25 years.
![North Sea Transition Authority](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/NSTA_image.jpg)
National Hydrocarbons Data Archive files now accessible through the National Data Repository
15/07/2024
Offshore well and survey information held within BGS’s archive have now been transferred to the North Sea Transition Authority’s National Data Repository to enable greater access.
![Seabed geomorphology from part of the central area of the Offshore East Anglia seabed map. BGS © UKRI.](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/seabed-geomorphology-offshore-East-Anglia-seabed-map-feature.webp)
New research reveals the secrets of the seabed off the East Anglian coast
11/07/2024
New geological map will help in the hunt for new renewable energy opportunities whilst protecting delicate marine ecosystems.
![GitHub logo](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GitHub_logo.jpg)
Update released for BGS open-source database software, ETL Helper
09/07/2024
The software tool helps simplify the process of data transfer into and out of databases.
![Screenshot of the AGS4 file utilities tool and API with map markers over the UK.](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ags4-file-utilities-and-api.webp)
Update to BGS’s AGS file utilities tool released
19/06/2024
BGS has released significant updates to its online tool for validating geotechnical data held as AGS files. The update includes improvements to the tool’s user interface and the ability to convert AGS data into MS Excel files.
![Murrayfield Stadium located in Edinburgh, Scotland - © Thomas Feige / iStock.com](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Murrayfield_Stadium.jpg)
Quake it off: Taylor Swift concerts shake Edinburgh
13/06/2024
Seismometers around Edinburgh were triggered by the rapturous Murrayfield crowds over the weekend.
![Visitors taking part in the demonstration in BGS’s conference suit. BGS © UKRI.](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/P1051253-sized.webp)
BGS opens its doors to visitors at its Open Day in Keyworth
12/06/2024
BGS hosted its bi-annual Open Day on 8 June 2024, welcoming more than 1000 visitors to its headquarters in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire.
![Geologists at St Cyrus Beach. BGS © UKRI.](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_20240222_122824.webp)
BGS to update geological maps of Strathmore
10/06/2024
A three-year project has begun to revise geological maps of Strathmore, which were last surveyed nearly 100 years ago.
![Technical reports released by BGS. BGS © UKRI](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/DSSS8523-resized.webp)
BGS’s National Geoscience Data Centre releases over 8000 technical reports
05/06/2024
The technical reports, covering the full spectrum of BGS activities and subjects, were produced between 1950 and 2000.
![Hemerdon mine, Devon. BGS © UKRI.](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/tungsten-hemerdon-mine-hemerdon-devon-tungsten-west.webp)
UK Minerals Yearbook 2023 now available to download
04/06/2024
The latest edition provides essential information about the production, consumption and trade of UK minerals up to 2022.
![Map showing rock type and lithology](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/data-from-bgs-geology-625k.webp)
BGS announces collaboration with Ordnance Survey
29/05/2024
Ordnance Survey and BGS have teamed up to add a range of geological data products to the OS Data Hub, making it easier for users to access and use geospatial data.