VI.—On the Continental Elevation of the Glacial Period

Extract

Before the last meeting of the British Association, held in Liverpool, Professor Edward Hull presented a paper upon “Another Possible Cause of the Glacial Epoch.”inthat paper, Professor Hull applied the writer's work on the “Reconstruction of the Antillean Continent,” which brought together evidence of great continental elevation. This elevation and its effects upon the ocean-currents, in diverting them from the West Indian regions, with the consequent reduction of their temperature as they reach the northern latitudes in conjunction with the elevation of the land, were thought by Professor Hull to be sufficient causes for the production of the glacial climate over temperate regions in late geological times. The writer has hitherto never applied his observations on high continental elevation to climatic changes; but in this paper he proposes to extend briefly his researches from the Antillean region to the higher latitudes of America and the North Atlantic regions. Something has also been learned of the date of the great elevation; consequently inferences may be drawn as to climatic changes.