AbstractUsing late Quaternary ice marginal sites from the North Sea and Iceland a comparison of the sedimentary information available from subaerial and submarine site investigations was made. This was with regard to palaeo-environmental reconstructions of ice marginal Sedimentation processes. A detailed high resolution seismic survey in-the North Sea was compared to a similar subaerial site in Iceland. Submarine cores were compared with logged sections available from cliffs. These comparisons highlighted the differences in resolution of the structural information available and also the problems of applying existing modeis of glacimarine Sedimentation to offshore sites. This has raised questions concerning the accuracy of reconstructing palaeo-environments and processes in offshore sites presently under investigation. The implications of this for engineering projects in offshore areas requiring very precise site information about relict glaciated areas are significant.