Heinrich event




A Heinrich event is a natural phenomenon in which large armadas of icebergs break off from glaciers and traverse the North Atlantic. First described by marine geologist Hartmut Heinrich, they occurred during the past glacial periods or "ice ages" and are particularly well documented for the last glacial period. The icebergs contained rock mass, which has been eroded by the glaciers, and as they melted, this matter was dropped onto the sea floor as ice rafted debris (abbreviated to "IRD").