Nigg Bay
Also within
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Quaternary of Scotland | Favourable | — | 2014-03-14 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Quaternary
Landscape processes: Coastal, Glacial
Description
Nigg Bay Nigg Bay is located on the east coast of Scotland, 1 km south of Aberdeen harbour. Nigg Bay is a classic locality for Quaternary stratigraphy in north-east Scotland, illustrating several of the characteristic glacial deposits of the area. The section shows six distinct horizons including two tills, a layer of “morainic” gravels and a basal layer of sand and gravel containing Scandinavian erratics. There has been considerable debate about the number of ice advances represented by these deposits. Currently, all the deposits are believed to relate to the Late Devensian (last) glaciation (circa 33 000-15 000 years ago), except the basal sand and gravel. The latter was probably deposited during an earlier glacial event. Since the late 19th century, the Nigg Bay section has been recognised as a key reference site for interpreting the glacial history and ice movement patterns in north-east Scotland. Moreover, it illustrates particularly well the complexity of deposits which may be produced during a single glacial episode.