Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark - Geology

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The Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark designation. On 17th November 2015, the 195 member states of UNESCO ratified the creation of a new label, the UNESCO Global Geoparks, under the International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme. This expressed global governmental recognition of the importance of managing outstanding geological sites and landscapes in a holistic manner. This new designation is of equal standing to the longer established UNESCO World Heritage Site Programme, and the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. On that date the Burren and Cliffs of Moher achieved UNESCO designation. While the importance of archaeological and ecological sites to the cultural and environmental consciousness of humans have long been recognized, this designation recognized the significance of the geological history of Earth, which underlies every aspect of life on Earth, for the first time. Managed by Clare County Council with support from Geological Survey Ireland, the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark is now part of a growing global network of 169 Geoparks across 44 countries. There are currently two other UNESCO Global Geoparks in Ireland, the cross-border Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark (Cavan/Fermanagh) and the Copper Coast Geopark in Waterford, a number of other locations such as Mourne Gullion in County Down and Joyce Country and Western Lakes in Galway/Mayo are or will be applying for UNESCO Global Geopark status in the near future. We are fortunate to have two outstanding and significant geological locations, the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher, side by side in north Clare (which make us the envy of many other parts of Ireland). we are equally fortunate in having a network of local businesses as well as schools and community groups that appreciate the significance of the geological landscape, as well as the floral, archaeological and cultural heritage of the area. The global governmental recognition of the importance of geological heritage is in part, related to the increased awareness of the significance of climate change and the realization that geology records how the Earth has responded to climate change in the past. By understanding this we can better assess the possible outcomes and also educate our population on the changing Earth. Within the Burren limestone there are thin layers of shale, barely noticeable, that tell us that sea-level was fluctuating 330 million years ago, related to ancient major global ice ages. In the sandstone layers of the Cliffs of Moher we see evidence for monsoonal storms and floods in rivers that transported vast quantities of mud and fine sand into a sea, changing it forever. The visitors we invite here come here largely because of these two impressive geological sites. Working with the Burren Ecotourism Network we have created a Code of Practice for sustainable tourism businesses, working with over 60 local businesses to ensure a sustainable future and continued employment by setting and maintaining the highest international standards. The UNESCO Global Geopark designation is a globally recognized quality brand that visitors trust. Our goal is to keep that designation and we are already preparing for our next revalidation visit in 2023. Article written by Dr. Eamon Doyle, Geologist for Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, Clare County Council. www.burrengeopark.ie
Our Fossil Roots In sandstone rocks along the wild Atlantic coast of west Clare we find excellent examples of a fossil called Stigmaria. These are elongate, cylindrical or flattened structures with a surface covered in regularly arranged dimples. First recognized as fossils in the early 1800’s the name Stigmaria was introduced for them in 1822 by the eminent French palaeontologist Alexandre Brogniart. If you come across a Stigmaria or any other fossil, please remember that these fossils are a non-renewable resource and just take a photo. At first these fossils were thought to be plant trunks or branches, but the discovery of fine rootlets attached to them made it clear they were roots. In fact, the name Stigmaria refers to the dimples, which are the scars (as in ‘stigmata’) of rootlets that extended from the main root. This is important because roots grow in soil and fossil roots with rootlets still attached means the fossil is in a fossil soil, which indicates land. So, at that moment in time we were above sea-level. Stigmaria is a general term for the roots of a number of different fossil plants known as ‘Lycopods’ or ‘scale trees’. The most common are called Lepidodendron and Sigillaria. They were very abundant during the later part of Carboniferous times from 320-300 million years ago and were the early equivalent of trees, although they are more closely related to modern clubmosses. Unlike modern clubmosses which are small plants, the early lycopods were tall, sometimes reaching 30m in height and they therefore needed substantial root systems for support. Stigmaria can be long, regularly over a metre long and specimens over 6m long are known from similar aged rocks in the USA. Article written by Dr. Eamon Doyle, Geologist for Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, Clare County Council. Stigmaria was a shallow, horizontal, branching root system. Extending from the main trunk the roots branched dichotomously, that is they branched, bifurcating evenly in two. Much finer rootlets extended perpendicularly from the main root. This horizontal root system is thought to be an adaptation for growing in wet, swampy conditions and they are most often found associated with coal horizons. Coal horizons accumulated in swamps where the acidic, boggy conditions encouraged the preservation of the plant material. These abundant plants were significant because of the impact they had on the climate 300 million years ago. Like now, plants release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. It is thought that during the Carboniferous period, forests of these lycopods contributed to global cooling by absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, storing the carbon in the plant tissues and then having that stored in the swamps and bogs after they died, thus removing the carbon from the system. 300 million years later during the industrial revolution we started burning that preserved plant material (coal) in large quantities and very quickly transferred that carbon dioxide straight back into the atmosphere where it started to trap heat, and so global warming began. So, these fossils tell us not only the lie of the land of West Clare 300 million years ago but also are a reminder of how our actions in using Earth’s resources have consequences. www.burrengeopark.ie
Page 1 and 2: Managed By Supported By
Page 3 and 4: The patterns on Moher Flags are anc
Page 5: History in water flowing through th
Page 9 and 10: Biokarst coastline, near Doolin. In
Page 11 and 12: Lough Garrig on top of Sleive Elva
Page 13 and 14: A clay layer between two layers of
Page 15 and 16: Big Brachiopods Large brachiopods a
Page 17 and 18: Our Geological Connection with Ukra
Page 19 and 20: The corals of the Burren National P
Page 21 and 22: Conodonts: bizarre fossils in the B
Page 23 and 24: Sedimentary layers: reading the pag
Page 25 and 26: Oh poop... We have quite a wide var

Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark - Geology

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