scholarly journals Holocene sea-level history along eastern-southeastern Brazil

2003 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 13-24
Author(s):  
Louis Martin

Relative sea-level curves have been delineated for several sectors of the Brazilian coast. In order to have homogeneous and consistent curves, very short segments of the coastline with the same framework are considered. To minimize systematic errors tied to the particular nature of an indicator, we use the maximum number of different indicators available from former positions of relative sea level. These sea-level curves show that, during the last 7000 years, the central Brazilian coast has been subjected to a submergence phase which lasted until 5100 14C yr BP (5600 cal yr BP), followed by a drop in sea level. This drop in sea level was not continuous but was interrupted by two high-frequency oscillations. The Salvador curve, the most detailed, can be used as a reference for the central portion of the Brazilian coastline. It is now presented with corrections for isotopic fractionation and reservoir effects as well as calibrations for astronomical ages. Additional supporting evidence for the existence of high-frequency oscillations is provided. They are of the same magnitude as is predicted for the future under greenhouse conditions. These data will help us to understand how the coastal systems will respond to these sea-level changes.

2014 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 671-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOÃO WAGNER A. CASTRO ◽  
KENITIRO SUGUIO ◽  
JOSÉ C.S. SEOANE ◽  
ALINE M. DA CUNHA ◽  
FABIO F. DIAS

The present paper aims to investigate the relative sea-level and the coastal evolution during the Holocene in the Rio de Janeiro coastline, based on geological and biological indicators. Using topographic survey, excavation and coring, and 14C dating of these coastal deposits and beachrocks outcrops, we have reconstructed a sea-level curve for the Holocene. For the first time on the Brazilian coast it was identified a negative record of relative sea-level during Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene transition. After the transition, a relatively rapid increase of sea-level began. At approximately at 8500 cal yr BP, the sea-level was 0.5 m below the current level, was overtaken for the first time in the Holocene, at approximately 7500 cal yr BP. The maximum level of +2.5 m was reached between 4770 and 4490 cal yr BP. At the point of maximum transgression, the sea-level began a general behavior of lowering until the present. These results confirm other data already obtained elsewhere along the Atlantic coast of South America. The results of this study are consistent with previous researches and they help to refine the Holocene sea-level record along the Brazilian coast.


1999 ◽  
Vol 136 (6) ◽  
pp. 681-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. UNDERWOOD ◽  
S. F. MITCHELL

The mid-Cretaceous sediments of northeast England were deposited at the western margin of the southern North Sea Basin, with sedimentation occurring in a range of tectonic settings. Detailed analysis of the areal distribution and sedimentary facies of Aptian to earliest Cenomanian sediments has allowed the pattern of onlap onto the Market Weighton structural high and changes in relative sea level to be documented. Successive onlap episodes during the Early Aptian, Late Aptian and Early Albian culminated in the final flooding of the structure during the Late Albian (varicosum Subzone). Sea-level curves generated from coastal onlap patterns are difficult to relate to published ‘global’ sea-level curves due to the high frequency of the fluctuations in relative sea level observed. Despite this, detailed correlation and analysis of sedimentological events suggest that even the most expanded, basinal succession is relatively incomplete. This study has also shown that the change from dominantly syn-tectonic to dominantly post-tectonic sedimentation style occurred in the late Early Albian.


2002 ◽  
Vol 97 ◽  
pp. 171-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Price ◽  
Tom Higham ◽  
Lucia Nixon ◽  
Jennifer Moody

This article is concerned with the recognition and dating of Holocene relative sea-level changes along the coast of west Crete (an island located in the active Hellenic subduction arc of the southern Aegean) and in particular in Sphakia. Radiocarbon data for changes in sea levels collected and analysed previously must (a) be recorrected to take into account isotopic fractionation, and (b) recalibrated by using the new marine reservoir value. These new radiocarbon dates are analysed using Bayesian statistics. The resulting calendar dates for changes in sea level are younger than previously assumed. In particular the Great Uplift in western Crete in late antiquity must be dated to the fifth or sixth century AD, not to AD 365. Moreover, recent work on tectonics suggests that the Great Uplift need not have been accompanied by a catastrophic earthquake. Finally, we consider the consequences of the Great Uplift for some coastal sites in Sphakia.


2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
KENITIRO SUGUIO

Meanwhile the highest relative sea-level is the present one in southeastern United States (Gulf of Mexico) or in Netherlands coast, most of the Brazilian coast exhibited Holocene sea-levels higher than the present in the past. The Brazilian curves, representing the relative sea-level changes during last 7.000 years, are outlined using sedimentological, biological and prehistorical past sea-level records. This paper shows that these relative sea-level records, during the Holocene, can be suitably used to demonstrate the influence of the worldwide known paleoclimatic events, like the “Hypsithermal Age” and “Neoglaciation” on the Brazilian coast.


Geomorphology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 365 ◽  
pp. 107252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda C.G. Rodrigues ◽  
Paulo C.F. Giannini ◽  
Milene Fornari ◽  
André O. Sawakuchi

Author(s):  
Maria da Assunção Araújo

Sea level is a very changeable surface. Furthermore, the land may also be moving, in a slower rate,generating relative sea level changes. The causes of relative sea level changes are variable, but the onesthat cause more intense variations are related to climate.During Little Ice Age (LIA) Northern Hemisphere's summer temperatures fell significantly below theAD 1961–1990 range. This climate situation was responsible for a greater discharge of rivers, whichcould lead to a greater transportation of sediments to the coastline. During these cold periods, sea levelwas lower than in present time. All this could imply a coastline progradation, with the successiveabandon of older beach ridges, reinforcing the sandy supply for dune building. The coastal situationshould be, in some sense, the opposite of the situations that we face today.In present warm period, rivers carry less sediment than during LIA. Moreover, the recent sea level risecontributes to a coastal migration inlands and the erosion of previous beaches and dunes.Our investigation on ancient marine levels and Holocene cemented dunes suggests that the area nearEsmoriz (20 km south of Porto, NW Portuguese coast) is probably subsiding. This possible subsidence,together with recent sea level rise, induced by the end of LIA, could explain the severe coastal erosionthat is taking place at Espinho area (15 km south of Porto) since the middle of the XIX century.This example shows clearly the complexity of relative sea-level changes. Because of this complexity,sea level curves are not similar worldwide, as they depend on the interference of multiple time-scalesphenomena.


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