scholarly journals A review of last interglacial sea-level proxies in the western Atlantic and southwestern Caribbean, from Brazil to Honduras

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 4819-4845
Author(s):  
Karla Rubio-Sandoval ◽  
Alessio Rovere ◽  
Ciro Cerrone ◽  
Paolo Stocchi ◽  
Thomas Lorscheid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Marine Terraces ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Data Points ◽  
Marine Isotope Stage 5 ◽  
Elevation Measurement

Abstract. We use a standardized template for Pleistocene sea-level data to review last interglacial (Marine Isotope Stage 5 – MIS 5) sea-level indicators along the coasts of the western Atlantic and southwestern Caribbean, on a transect spanning from Brazil to Honduras and including the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. We identified six main types of sea-level indicators (beach deposits, coral reef terraces, lagoonal deposits, marine terraces, Ophiomorpha burrows, and tidal notches) and produced 55 standardized data points, each constrained by one or more geochronological methods. Sea-level indicators are well preserved along the Brazilian coasts, providing an almost continuous north-to-south transect. However, this continuity disappears north of the Rio Grande do Norte Brazilian state. According to the sea-level index points (discrete past position of relative sea level in space and time) the paleo sea-level values range from ∼ 5.6 to 20 m above sea level (a.s.l.) in the continental sector and from ∼ 2 to 10 m a.s.l. in the Caribbean islands. In this paper, we address the uncertainties surrounding these values. From our review, we identify that the coasts of northern Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, and Venezuela would benefit from a renewed study of Pleistocene sea-level indicators, as it was not possible to identify sea-level index points for the last interglacial coastal outcrops of these countries. Future research must also be directed at improving the chronological control at several locations, and several sites would benefit from the re-measurement of sea-level index points using more accurate elevation measurement techniques. The database compiled in this study is available in spreadsheet format at the following link: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5516444 (Version 1.02; Rubio-Sandoval et al., 2021).

scholarly journals A review of Last Interglacial sea-level proxies in the Western Atlantic and Southwestern Caribbean, from Brazil to Honduras

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla Rubio-Sandoval ◽  
Alessio Rovere ◽  
Ciro Cerrone ◽  
Paolo Stocchi ◽  
Thomas Lorscheid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Marine Terraces ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Data Compilation ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Geochronological Constraints

Abstract. In this paper, we use a standardized template for Pleistocene sea-level data to review last interglacial (MIS 5) sea-level indicators along the coasts of the Western Atlantic and Southwestern Caribbean, on a transect spanning from Brazil to Honduras, and including the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. Our review produced 55 standardized datapoints, each assigned to one or more geochronological constraints. Sea-level index points are well preserved along the Brazilian coasts, providing an almost continuous north-to-south transect. Despite this and the variety of relative sea-level indicators (i.e. beach deposits, coral reef terraces, marine terraces, Ophiomorpha burrows, and tidal notches) our data compilation highlights several concerns related to age control and the accuracy of elevation measurements. We identify that the coasts of Northern Brazil, French Guyana, Suriname, Guyana, and Venezuela would benefit from a renewed study of Pleistocene sea-level indicators, as it was not possible to identify sea-level index for the last interglacial coastal outcrops along the coasts of these countries. Future research must also be directed at improving the chronological control at several locations, and several sites would benefit from re-measurement of sea-level index points using more accurate elevation measurement techniques. Our database contribution represents a starting point to detail the last interglacial sea-level history in this area. The database is available at the following link: https://zenodo.org/record/4727850 (Version 1.01; Rubio-Sandoval et al., 2021).

scholarly journals A standardized database of Marine Isotope Stage 5e sea-level proxies in southern Africa (Angola, Namibia and South Africa)

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 953-968
Author(s):  
J. Andrew G. Cooper ◽  
Andrew N. Green
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Marine Isotope Stage ◽  
Ca 125 ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Littoral Sediments ◽  
Data Points ◽  
Mis 5E

Abstract. Evidence for sea-level change during and around Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e (ca. 125 ka) in southern Africa derives from a wide variety of geomorphic and sedimentological sea-level indicators, supported in the past 2 decades by absolute chronological control, particularly on littoral deposits, some of which have a quantifiable relationship to former sea level. In addition to these proxies, data provided by both terrestrial (dune sediments and archaeological remains) and marine (lagoonal and nearshore littoral sediments) limiting points provide broad constraints on sea level. Here, we review publications describing such data points. Using the framework of the World Atlas of Last Interglacial Shorelines, we insert in a standardized database (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4459297, Cooper and Green, 2020) all the elements available to assess former palaeo-relative sea level (palaeo-RSL) and the chronological constraints associated with them (including uncertainties). Overall, we reviewed 71 studies, from which we extracted 39 sea-level indicators and 26 limiting points. As far as age attribution is concerned, early analysis of molluscs and whole-rock beachrock samples using U series allowed dating of several sea-level indicators during the 1980s, but the more widespread application of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating since 2004 has yielded many more (and more accurate) sea-level indicators from several sites. This has helped resolve the nature and timing of MIS 5e shorelines and has the potential to further elucidate the apparent presence of two or more sea-level peaks at several South African sites during this interval. The standardized sea-level database presented in this paper is the first of its kind for this region. Future research should be directed to improve the stratigraphic description of last interglacial shorelines and to obtain better dating, high-accuracy elevation measurements with better palaeo-RSL interpretation.

scholarly journals Last interglacial sea-level proxies in the Korean Peninsula

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woo Hun Ryang ◽  
Alexander R. Simms ◽  
Hyun Ho Yoon ◽  
Seung Soo Chun ◽  
Gee Soo Kong
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
West Coast ◽  
Korean Peninsula ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Vertical Movement ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
The West ◽  
Sea Levels ◽  
Marine Terraces ◽  
Data Points

Abstract. Like most of the world’s coastlines, the Korean Peninsula experienced higher-than-present sea levels during the Last Interglacial (LIG) otherwise known as Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e. However, the expression of that highstand in sea levels differs across the eastern and western Korean Peninsula. The active east coast of the Korean Peninsula is characterized by broad uplifted marine terraces, while the stable west coast is characterized by tidal flats and rias. In this study, we used a standardized database template to review and extract the existing constraints on LIG sea levels along both the east and west coasts of the Korean Peninsula. A total of 62 LIG constraining data points were compiled including 34 sea-level indicators, 22 marine limiting records, and 6 terrestrial limiting records. The ages from these data points are based on 61 optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) measurements and 1 paleomagnetic-based age. Along the uplifted east coast, LIG sea-level indicators based on marine terraces are at elevations ranging from +9 to +32 m. The uplifted marine terraces are cut or otherwise deformed by faults developed under a compressional regime due to backarc closing of the East Sea since the early Pliocene. As a result, tectonic uplift likely contaminates the elevation of the east coast LIG shorelines. On the contrary, LIG sea-level constraints on the west coast of the Korean Peninsula are found at heights of between +2 and +5 m and include marine and terrestrial limiting records as well as true sea-level indicators. The LIG sea-level constraints along the west coast of the Korean Peninsula are likely uncontaminated by vertical movement or experienced minor subsidence during the Quaternary.

scholarly journals A Review of MIS 5e Sea-level Proxies around Japan

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan Tam ◽  
Yusuke Yokoyama
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Stratigraphic Correlation ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
Sea Levels ◽  
Carbon 14 ◽  
Marine Terraces ◽  
Uplift Rates ◽  
Data Points ◽  
Tephra Layers ◽  
Mis 5E

Abstract. Sea-level proxies for Marine Isotopic Stage 5e (MIS 5e, ca. 124 ka) are abundant along the Japanese shoreline, and have been documented for over at least the last 60 years. The bulk of these sea-level proxies are identified in Japan as marine terraces, often correlated by stratigraphic relationships to identified tephra layers, or other chronologically interpreted strata. Use of stratigraphic correlation in conjunction with other techniques such as paleontological analysis, tectonic uplift rates, tephra (volcanic ash), Uranium-Thorium (U/Th), Carbon-14 (14C), and Optically Stimulated Luminesce (OSL) dating techniques have connected Japan’s landforms to global patterns of sea-level change. This paper reviews over 60 years of publications containing sea-level proxies correlated to forming during MIS 5e in Japan. Data collected for this review have been added to the World Atlas of Last Interglacial Shorelines (WALIS), following their standardizations on the elements necessary to analyze paleo sea-levels. This paper reviewed over 70 studies, assembling data points for 300+ locations and examining related papers denoting sea-level indicators for MIS 5e. The database compiled for this review review (Tam and Yokoyama, 2020) is available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4294326 .

scholarly journals A standardized database of MIS 5e sea-level proxies in southern Africa (Angola, Namibia and South Africa)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Andrew G. Cooper ◽  
Andrew N. Green
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Luminescence Dating ◽  
Ca 125 ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Littoral Sediments ◽  
Data Points ◽  
Mis 5E

Abstract. Evidence for sea-level change during and around Marine Isotopic Stage 5e (ca. 125 ka) in southern Africa derives from a wide variety of geomorphic and sedimentological sea-level indicators, supported in the past 2 decades by absolute chronological control. In addition to these proxies, data provided by both terrestrial (dune sediments and archaeological remains) and marine (lagoonal and nearshore littoral sediments) limiting points provide broad constraints on sea level. Here, we review publications describing these data points. Using the framework of the World Atlas of Last Interglacial Shorelines, we insert in a standardized database all the elements needed to assess former paleo relative sea level, and the chronological constraints associated with them (including uncertainties). Overall, we reviewed 69 studies, from which we extracted 35 sea-level indicators and 25 limiting points. As far as age attribution is concerned, early dating of molluscs and whole-rock beachrock samples using U-Series allowed ating of several sea-level indicators during the 1980s but the more widespread application of Optically Stimulated Luminescence dating since 2004 has yielded many more (and more accurate) dates from several sites. This has helped resolve the nature and timing of MIS5e shorelines and has the potential to further elucidate the apparent presence of two or more sea-level peaks at several South African sites during this interval. The standardized sea-level database presented in this paper is the first of its kind for this region. Future research should be directed to improve the stratigraphic description of LIG shorelines and to obtain better dating, high-accuracy elevation measurements with better palaeo-RSL interpretation.

scholarly journals Last Interglacial sea-level data points from Northwest Europe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim M. Cohen ◽  
Victor Cartelle ◽  
Robert Barnett ◽  
Freek S. Busschers ◽  
Natasha L. M. Barlow
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Near Field ◽  
Data Entry ◽  
English Channel ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
Regional Literature ◽  
The North ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Data Points ◽  
The North Sea

Abstract. Abundant numbers of sites and studies exist that document the Last Interglacial (Eemian, Ipswichian, MIS 5e) coastal record for geographically and geomorphologically diverse NW Europe. This paper documents a database of 141 known Last Interglacial sea-level indicative data points from in and around the North Sea (35 entries in Netherlands, 10 Belgium, 16 in Germany, 17 in Denmark, 8 in Britain) and the English Channel (28 entries for British and 25 for the French side, 3 on the Channel Isles), believed to be a representative and fairly complete inventory and assessment coming from some 80 published sites. The good geographic distribution (some 1500 km SW-NE) across the near field of the Scandinavian and British Ice Sheets and the attention paid to absolute and relative age control are assets of the NW European database compilation. The research history of Last Interglacial coastal environments and sea-level position for this area is long, methodically diverse and spread over regional literature in several languages. Last Interglacial high-stand shorelines of Dutch and German Bight parts of the North Sea, were of lagoonal and estuarine type and have preserved subsurface (data entry included estimates of non-GIA vertical land motion). In contrast, Last Interglacial high-stand shorelines along the English Channel are encountered above modern sea-level (data entry includes datum definitions). Our review and database compilation effort drew from the original regional literature, and paid particular attention to distinguishing between sea-level index points (SLIPs) and marine and terrestrial limiting-points. This paper describes the dominant sea-level indicators produced from region to region, compliant to the database structure of the special issue (WALIS), referenced to original source data. The sea level proxies in majority are obtained from localities with well-developed lithostratigraphic, morpho-stratigraphic and biostratigraphical constraints. Amino-Acid Racemization information is also prominent, especially in Britain, albeit for many sites the older, lesser quality applications of that technique. The majority of European continental sites have chronostratigraphic age-control, notably through regional Pollen Association Zones of known durations. This greatly helps to separate transgression, highstand (‘stillstand’) and regression subsets from within the interglacial, useful when summarizing and/or querying the dataset. In all regions, many SLIPs and limiting points have further independent age-control from luminescence (IRSL, OSL, TL), U-series and ESR dating techniques. Main foreseen usage of this database for the near field region of the European ice sheets is in GIA modelling.

scholarly journals Last Interglacial sea-level proxies in the western Mediterranean

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4485-4527
Author(s):  
Ciro Cerrone ◽  
Matteo Vacchi ◽  
Alessandro Fontana ◽  
Alessio Rovere
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
Marine Isotopic Stage ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Data Points

Abstract. We describe a database of Last Interglacial (Marine Isotopic Stage 5) sea-level proxies for the western Mediterranean region. The database was compiled reviewing the information reported in 199 published studies and contains 396 sea-level data points (sea-level index points and marine- or terrestrial-limiting points) and 401 associated dated samples. The database follows the standardized WALIS template and is available as Cerrone et al. (2021b, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5341661).

scholarly journals Last Interglacial sea-level proxies in East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Boyden ◽  
Jennifer Weil-Accardo ◽  
Pierre Deschamps ◽  
Davide Oppo ◽  
Alessio Rovere
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Western Indian Ocean ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
Marine Isotopic Stage ◽  
The North ◽  
Aeolian Deposits ◽  
Marine Terraces ◽  
Data Points

Abstract. In this paper, we describe a sea-level database compiled using published Last Interglacial, Marine Isotopic Stage 5 (MIS 5), geological sea-level proxies within Eastern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean (EAWIO). Encompassing vast tropical coastlines and coralline islands, this region has many occurrences of well preserved last interglacial stratigraphies. Most notably, islands almost entirely composed by Pleistocene reefs (such as Aldabra, the Seychelles) have provided reliable paleo relative sea-level indicators and well-preserved samples for U-series chronology. Other sea-level proxies include uplifted marine terraces in the north of Somalia and tidal notches in luminescence limited aeolian deposits in Mozambique. Our database has been compiled using the World Atlas of Last Interglacial Shorelines (WALIS) interface and contains 57 sea-level indicators and 2 terrestrial limiting data points. The database is available open access at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4043366 (Version 1.02) (Boyden et al., 2020).

WALIS - Towards a global database of Last Interglacial sea-level proxies.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessio Rovere ◽  
Deirdre Ryan ◽  
Matteo Vacchi ◽  
Alexander Simms ◽  
Andrea Dutton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Research Council ◽  
Geological Data ◽  
Sea Level Changes ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
Global Database ◽  
The World ◽  
First Results ◽  
Data Points ◽  
The Subject

<p>The standardization of geological data, and their compilation into geodatabases, is essential to allow more coherent regional and global analyses. In sea-level studies, the compilation of databases containing details on geological paleo sea-level proxies has been the subject of decades of work. This was largely spearheaded by the community working on Holocene timescales. While several attempts were also made to compile data from older interglacials, a truly comprehensive approach was missing. Here, we present the ongoing efforts directed to create the World Atlas of Last Interglacial Shorelines (WALIS), a project spearheaded by the PALSEA (PAGES/INQUA) community and funded by the European Research Council (ERC StG 802414). The project aims at building a sea-level database centered on the Last Interglacial (Marine Isotope Stage 5e, 125 ka), a period of time considered as an "imperfect analog" for a future warmer climate. The database is composed of 17 tables embedded into a mySQL framework with a total of more than 500 single fields to describe several properties related to paleo sea-level proxies, dated samples and metadata. In this presentation, we will show the first results of the global compilation, which includes nearly 2000 data points and will discuss its relevance in answering some of the most pressing questions related to sea-level changes in past warmer worlds. </p>

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