A Sudden Glacial Outflow Formed the English Channel

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the hypothesis that a sudden glacial outflow may have formed the English Channel, drawing parallels to historical geological events such as the Missoula floods. Participants explore the implications of this idea within the context of geological paradigms, including catastrophism and uniformitarianism.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Historical

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that a glacial lake in the North Sea may have overflowed, similar to the Missoula floods, leading to the erosion of a land bridge between England and France.
  • Others mention previous discussions that faced significant opposition regarding the likelihood of such an event occurring.
  • A participant draws a comparison to the historical debate between uniformitarianism and catastrophism in geology, suggesting that the acceptance of catastrophic events has evolved over time.
  • Some participants note that the concept of catastrophism is now mainstream and supported by various geological data, including the KT boundary and the Missoula scablands.
  • One participant reflects on their educational experiences with plate tectonics, indicating that it was once considered a new concept in geology.
  • Another participant argues that the melting glaciers in northern Europe would lead to significant water flow into the North Sea, which would eventually seek an outlet to the Atlantic, potentially supporting the hypothesis of a glacial outflow forming the English Channel.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the likelihood and implications of the glacial outflow hypothesis, with some supporting it and others recalling past opposition to similar ideas. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the acceptance of this hypothesis within the broader geological community.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference historical debates in geology and the evolution of scientific paradigms, indicating that acceptance of catastrophic events has changed over time. There is also mention of the need for further exploration of the mechanisms behind glacial outflows and their geological impact.

BillTre
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Similar to the bursting of a dam holding back glacial lake Missula which created a deluge that scoured eastern Washington State and created the Columbia River Gourge, a Glacial lake in the area of the North Sea may have spilled out (twice) over a land bridge connecting England to France and washed it away.

Here is a New York Times article on the Nature article (which for some reason I can access).
 
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Thanks for that Nature link. Not often us amateurs can get access to such detail...
 
BillTre said:
Similar to the bursting of a dam holding back glacial lake Missula which created a deluge that scoured eastern Washington State and created the Columbia River Gourge, a Glacial lake in the area of the North Sea may have spilled out (twice) over a land bridge connecting England to France and washed it away.

Here is a New York Times article on the Nature article (which for some reason I can access).
Thanks for that Bill!

We've had some interesting discussions on this. I had also seen a documentary on this and had posted about this, then there was some very fierce opposition to it happening posted here.
 
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Evo said:
there was some very fierce opposition to it happening posted here.

Sounds kinda like an expression of uniformitarianism, which was the philosophy of geology after it threw off the ideas of the Old Testament Origin Story (flood and deluges, AKA catastrophism). In reaction to that, uniformitarianism was only accepting of gradual continuous changes as explanations of geology.
Some might say Darwin took this attitude to evolution (gradualism vs. the more dramatic punctuated evolution views.

I think when the Missoula based floods were first proposed by Bretz, he was strenuously opposed by the uniformantarians running major geology departments for many years. After about 40 years, the data supporting the flood events won out and I believe that Bretz was still around to enjoy it.

This seems to me to be a strong example of a battle of scientific paradigms.
 
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@BillTre -Catastrophic Geology, Catastrophism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catastrophism

This is very mainstream Geology now and is supported by data like the KT boundary, the Missoula scablands, and the Arizona meteor crater.
When I was an undergraduate, plate tectonics was not taught in the undergrad courses I had from the geology department -- ~1962. Tectonics is now understood from a plant geography perspective as well.
 
When I was in High School (early 70's) I read a little book on plate tectonics, which I found very convincing. That was the first I had heard about it.

I took a physical geography course in college (later 70's) and wrote a report on plate tectonics. I got the impression from the professor it was still considered kind of new then.
 
It does seem like a reasonable proposition given that in a situation of melting glaciers in northern Europe,
there would be tonnes of water flowing into the North Sea from several European mainland sources,
Eventually it has to find a way to get into the Atlantic, and Nature usually finds the easiest route.
The only other way to play would be by sending the water N around the top of Scotland.
 

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