Digital surface models and the landscape: interaction between bedrock and glacial geology in the Ullapool area

Abstract

The front cover image for this volume is a hill-shaded digital surface model (DSM) of the Ullapool area, created using NEXTMap Britain elevation data from Intermap Technologies. This is a classic area for bedrock geology, transected by the Moine Thrust Zone, and in recent years has also been studied in detail for its glacial history. Perhaps equally important, this is one of Scotland’s most iconic landscapes. The geology of the area comprises a number of distinct sequences, each of which has a characteristic landscape expression as illustrated by the DSM. This paper considers the influence of the bedrock geology on the glacial geomorphology, and shows that the interplay of the two has led to the development of the different landscape elements of this spectacular area