Holocene fluctuations of the Black Sea level and human activities along the south Black Sea coast

Holocene fluctuations of the Black Sea level have played a significant role in the existence of the Black Sea polis-cities. The high sea-level during the Novochernomorian transgression is followed by the Phanagorian regression when the sea level reached its minimum of 3 m below the modern sea level during the antiquity (Roman Age). Then, on the west coast of Mandra Lake the Roman polis Deultum was founded which became a flourishing port. The discrepancy between the low sea level and ancient navigation activity in Mandra Lake is a challenge for further investigations of the Holocene sediments.

Age, Genesis, and Seismogenic Deformations of the Vuoksa River Terraces on the Karelian Isthmus (Northwestern Russia)

—Terraces at four hypsometric levels were studied in the Vuoksa River basin (northern part of the Karelian Isthmus, NW Russia). New data on nine sections of late Quaternary–Holocene sediments have been obtained. Their age has been determined (for the first time for surface deposits in the studied region) in the interval from 90 to 2 ka. The terrace sediments are disturbed by deformations (faults, folds, and liquefaction) caused by six strong earthquakes in that period. The relationships among the terrace levels, ages, stratigraphy, and structures of loose sediments point to their formation under the impact of differentiated tectonic motions triggered by the activation of the ancient “Vuoksa” fault zone in the late Neopleistocene and Holocene.

Пирит в осадках озер Курильских островов

Holocene sediments of the Kuril Archipelago lakes (Pernatoye, Paramushir Island; Tokatan, Urup Island; Maloye and Kasatka, Iturup Island) were studied. The sediments consist of freshwater lake, lagoon, and marine facies. Pyrite is most often found in sediments of lagoon and marine facies, being their indicator. It is found as separate spheroids and clusters of framboidal structure. Pyrite aggregates fill up diatom valves. Valves were filled with pyrite gradually.

Karakteristik Perubahan Lingkungan Akhir Plistosen - Holosen di Dataran Rendah Aluvial dan Pantai Wilayah Demak, Kudus, Jepara, Pati dan Sekitaranya

ABSTRAKWilayah dataran aluvial hingga pantai daerah Demak, Kudus, Jepara, Pati dan sekitarnya ditutupi endapan sedimen Holosen yang terdiri atas kerikil, pasir, lempung, lanau, dan bongkah batuan gunungapi. Penelitian dilakukan dengan analisis sedimentologi dan stratigrafi terhadap 37 pemboran berskala 1 : 100 dengan ketebalan sedimen antara 0,8 - 18 meter. Berdasarkan korelasi data hasil pemboran diketahui bahwa sedimen Holosen di wilayah ini dapat dibedakan dalam tiga interval proses pengendapan (IPP A- C). Perubahan sedimen secara vertikal dapat diwakili oleh setiap sub-IPP yang merupakan hasil dari proses eksternal sesuai perubahan iklim, fluktuasi muka laut, tektonik dan aktivitas gunungapi. Dari hasil analisis stratigrafi diketahui bahwa perubahan lingkungan pengendapan pada daerah penelitian berhubungan dengan aktivitas proses eksternal di cekungan ini. Peranan proses eksternal ini diharapkan menjadi variabel dalam perumusan kebijakan pengelolaan lingkungan di wilayah Demak, Kudus, Jepara, Pati, dan sekitarnya.Kata kunci: fluktuasi muka air laut, Holosen, lingkungan, tektonik, perubahan iklimABSTRACTThe alluvial plain to the coast of Demak, Kudus, Jepara, Pati, and its surroundings is covered with sedimentary Holocene deposits consisting of gravel, sand, clay, silt, and volcanic rock boulders. The study used sedimentology and stratigraphic analysis of 37 drilling points with sediment thicknesses between 0.8-18 meters. Based on the correlation of drilling results, the Holocene sediments in the area of research can be distinguished in three deposition process (IPP) intervals. Vertically, sediment changes can be represented by each sub-IPP which are the result of external processes according to climate change, sea-level fluctuations, tectonics, and volcanic activity. From the results of the stratigraphic analysis, the changes in the depositional environment in the study area are related to external process activities in the basin. The effects of this external process are expected to be a recommendation in the future environmental development in the Demak, Kudus, Jepara, Pati, and its surroundings.Keywords: sea-level fluctuation, Holocene, environment, tectonic, climate change

Determining sedimentation rates by accounting for past compaction in the Mekong Delta as input for 3D delta evolution modelling

<p>The Vietnamese Mekong River Delta has been formed by the deposition of soft, fine-grained sediments during the last thousands of years. Natural compaction of these unconsolidated deposits over time and with increased overburden load is one of the main drivers of subsidence in this delta. High rates of natural compaction may have a considerable increased flood vulnerability of the lowly elevated delta plain and ultimately result in permanent inundation.</p><p>Following the loading history of accumulating sediments during the Holocene delta evolution, it is possible to estimate delta-wide present-day natural compaction rates. The ultimate goal of this study is to provide reliable input data on Holocene sedimentation rate throughout the Mekong Delta for a novel 3D numerical model to simulate delta formation and its dynamic evolution during the late Holocene. In order to achieve this, it is fundamental to first take into account previous compaction that already happened to the sediments in the past to estimate the original sedimentation rate of Holocene sediments.</p><p>We employed a 1D decompaction module to compute the original, uncompacted thickness of Holocene delta sequences from lithological borelogs to estimate the amount of virgin sediment that has been deposited in time. The original thickness of Holocene sediments was determined after investigating geomechanical properties of Holocene deposits and decompaction of lithological boreholes spread over the delta. To determine the sedimentation rate for the borelogs with missing dating information, the age was estimated by using a linear distance interpolation of age isochrones starting from a limited number of boreholes, where both stratigraphy and sediment ages are available.</p><p>As a final step, the estimated sedimentation rates from each of the borelogs are interpolated to arrive at delta-wide sedimentation rates and lithology during the Late Holocene. This provides the required input data for the 3D model to simulate natural consolidation during the delta evolution and accurately assess present natural compaction rates.</p>