Late Devensian and Holocene relative sea‐level change in North Wales,UK

Deglacial sea‐level index points defining relative sea‐level (RSL) change are critical for testing glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) model output. Only a few observations are available from North Wales and until recently these provided a poor fit to GIA model output for the British‐Irish Ice Sheet. We present results of an integrated offshore geophysical (seismic reflection), coring (drilling rig), sedimentological, micropalaeontological (foraminifera), biostratigraphical (palynology) and geochronological (AMS ¹⁴C) investigation into a sequence of multiple peat/organic sediment horizons interbedded within a thick estuarine–marine sequence of minerogenic clay‐silts to silty sands from the NE Menai Strait, North Wales. Ten new sea‐level index points and nine new limiting dates from the Devensian Late‐glacial and early Holocene are integrated with twelve pre‐existing Holocene sea‐level index points and one limiting point from North Wales to generate a regional RSL record. This record is similar to the most recent GIA predictions for North Wales RSL change, supporting either greater ice load and later deglaciation than in the GIA predictions generated before 2004, or a modified eustatic function. There is no evidence for a mid‐Holocene highstand. Tidally corrected RSL data indicate initial breaching of the Menai Strait between 8.8 and 8.4 ka BP to form a tidal causeway, with final submergence between 5.8 and 4.6 ka BP. Final breaching converted the NE Menai Strait from a flood‐dominated estuary into a high energy ebb tidal delta with extensive tidal scouring of pre‐existing Late‐glacial and Holocene sequences. The study confirms the value of utilising offshore drilling/coring technology to recover sea‐level records which relate to intervals when rates of both eustatic and isostatic change were at their greatest, and therefore of most value for constraining GIA models. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

莱州湾南岸全新世相对海平面变化重建

在对莱州湾南岸8个钻孔沉积物沉积结构及有孔虫特征分析基础上,识别相关海面标志层位,辅以加速器质谱AMS14C测年,重建了全新世相对海面变化历史,并讨论了海面变化的沉积响应及控制因素。约9200cal BP以前,海面快速上升,研究区海侵时海面于-21.5m左右;9200~8400cal BP海面上升速率减缓至约2mm/a;8400~8000cal BP海面由-14m快速上升至-5.5m,速率约为33mm/a;8000~7600cal BP,海面持续数百年停滞或微弱下降;7600~7000cal BP海面由-5.5m快速上升至0m以上,速率至少约为13mm/a;7000~6000cal BP海面缓慢上升至+2~+3m位置,速率约为3mm/a;约6000cal BP以后海面缓慢下降至现今水平。约9200cal BP以前、8400~8000cal BP、7600~7000cal BP时期的3次海面快速上升,是MWP-1C融水脉冲、诱发8.2ka冷事件的融水脉冲,以及MWP-2融水脉冲的中纬度地区响应。中全新世全球冰融趋于停滞后,由于研究区沉积盆地沉降速度较慢,在冰川均衡调整效应下,使+2~+3m的相对高海面得以呈现。     

Holocene coastal evolution and uplift mechanisms of the northeastern Raukumara Peninsula,North Island,New Zealand

The coastal geomorphology of the northeastern Raukumara Peninsula, New Zealand, is examined with the aim of determining the mechanisms of Holocene coastal uplift. Elevation and coverbed stratigraphic data from previously interpreted coseismic marine terraces at Horoera and Waipapa indicate that, despite the surface morphology, there is no evidence that these terraces are of marine or coseismic origin. Early Holocene transgressive marine deposits at Hicks Bay indicate significant differences between the thickness of preserved intertidal infill sediments and the amount of space created by eustatic sea level rise, therefore uplift did occur during early Holocene evolution of the estuary. The palaeoecology and stratigraphy of the sequence shows no evidence of sudden land elevation changes. Beach ridge sequences at Te Araroa slope gradually toward the present day coast with no evidence of coseismic steps. The evolution of the beach ridges was probably controlled by sediment supply in the context of a background continuous uplift rate. No individual dataset uniquely resolves the uplift mechanism. However, from the integration of all evidence we conclude that Holocene coastal uplift of this region has been driven by a gradual, aseismic mechanism. An important implication of this is that tectonic uplift mechanisms do vary along the East Coast of the North Island. This contrasts with conclusions of previous studies, which have inferred Holocene coastal uplift along the length of the margin was achieved by coseismic events. This is the first global example of aseismic processes accommodating uplift at rates of >1 mm yr⁻¹ adjacent to a subduction zone and it provides a valuable comparison to subduction zones dominated by great earthquakes.     

Relative sea level changes during the Holocene in the Sisimiut area,south‐western Greenland

Holocene relative sea level (RSL) changes have been investigated by analysing and dating isolation sequences from five lakes near Sisimiut in south‐western Greenland. The transitions between marine and lacustrine sediments were determined from elemental analyses and analyses of macroscopic plant and animal remains. Radiocarbon dating was used to provide minimum ages for the transitions and to construct a RSL curve. Dating of a shell of the marine bivalve Macoma balthica indicates that deglaciation of the lowlands occurred in the early Holocene, at around 10 900 cal a BP. The RSL curve shows initial rapid regression from the marine limit at around 140 m, implying strong glacio‐isostatic rebound. We suggest that the margin of the Greenland Ice Sheet was located at the shelf break during the Last Glacial Maximum. Frequent remains of the ostracode Sarcypridopsis aculeata, which is a thermophilous brackish water species that is unknown from the extant fauna of Greenland, in one of the basins around 8500 cal a BP may mark the beginning of the Holocene thermal maximum in the region. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evidence of high sea level during the mid- Holocene on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka

A well-developed extensive buried coral reef at Akurala, north of Hikkaduwa, is deposited on a low plateau of decomposed crystalline rocks of Precambrian age. Radiocarbon age datings from three coral quarries in the area reveal that the branching and massive corals, in a position ofgrowth, were gradually deposited between 6, 110 ± 80 B.P. and 5,500 ± 80 B.P. in a bay or a lagoon as isolated patches, and their heights vary from 1.4m to 3.9m below mean sea level (MSL). Four radiocarbon age datings of emerged coral reef patches at Akurala and Akurala- Telwatte vary from 6,170 ± 70 B.P. to 5,350 ± 80 B.P. and at levels between 10cm and 70cm above MSL respectively. The present living corals in front of the southwest coast thrive from mean low water spring (MLWS) tidal level to 4m in depth in lagoonal reef areas. From the level of pesent living coral it is inferred that sea level was above the present level about 50cm at 6,110 ± 80 B.P. and 1m or more at 5,560 ± 80 B.P. The in situ position and condition of the materials show that they were not accumulated by catastrophic events such as storm waves.     

Holocene depocenter shift in the middle-lower Changjiang River basins and coastal area in response to sea level change

Authors collected 38 sedimentary boreholes and numerous seismic profiles from previous publications to delineate the Holocene sedimentation rate of six major depositional sinks in the middle-lower Changjiang River basins and its river coast. The results demonstrate that the highest sedimentation rate of ca. 15 m/ka occurred in the mono-depositional sink of the former Changjiang River mouth during 10 000–8000 aBP, when post-glacial transgression happened and the Changjiang water level remained at lower stand. With the rising of the Changjiang water level in response to sea level rise, Jianghan Basin of the middle Changjiang River becomes the other important depositional sink with highest sedimentation rate of 10 m/ka since 7000 aBP. As Jianghan Basin was mostly filled up at ca. 4000 aBP, Dongting Basin and the lower Changjiang valley trapped sediments in great amounts like in the river mouth. A considerable amount of Changjiang sediments has been delivered, both eastward and southward, to the inner continental shelf of the East China Sea, especially after 2000 aBP. This indicates reduced sediment storage capacity of the middle-lower Changjiang valley and the river mouth. In total, ca. 1307.4 billion tons of sediment have deposited in the middle-lower Changjiang floodplain since 7000 aBP. In the meantime, ca. 947 billion tons of sediment have been deposited in the river coast to form the Changjiang subaqueous delta and the Zhejiang-Fujian along-shelf mud wedge. Our result also reveals two time stages with lower sedimentation rates(< 4 m/ka) in all basins during 8000–7000 aBP and in the estuarine area during 4000–2000 aBP, probably owing to stengthened chemical weathering of decline of monsoon precipitation. __________ Translated from Journal of Palaeogeography, 2007, 9(4):419–429 [译自: 古地理学报]     

南海北部晚全新世高海平面及其波动的海滩沉积证据

揭示晚全新世以来的海平面变化过程对于理解海平面所处的现状和变化的趋势等具有重要意义。构造活动相对稳定的雷州半岛珊瑚礁区蕴藏着丰富的海平面变化信息,文中对该区晚全新世发育的海滩沉积序列研究表明,距今约1.7～1.2Cal.kaBP(14C年代为2.1～1.7kaBP)期间总体上是一个海平面持续上升的时期,其中在距今约1.5Cal.kaBP时海平面有过短暂的下降波动,约1.2Cal.kaBP时的海平面比现在的至少高128cm;之后海平面开始下降,至今海岸线后退了约210m,形成现代海滩-沙堤地貌体系。结合本区珊瑚礁记录的全新世其他时段海平面的变化特征,本文认为全新世海平面与气候变化一样,也存在千年、百年、年代际尺度的波动特征。     

Catastrophic early Holocene sea level rise,human migration and the Neolithic transition in Europe

The collapse of the Laurentide Ice Sheet and release of freshwater 8740–8160 years ago abruptly raised global sea levels by up to 1.4 m. The effect on human populations is largely unknown. Here we constrain the time of the main sea level rise and investigate its effect on the onset of the Neolithic across Europe. An analysis of radiocarbon ages and palaeoshoreline reconstruction supports the hypothesis that flooding of coastal areas led to the sudden loss of land favoured by early farmers and initiated an abrupt expansion of activity across Europe, driven by migrating Neolithic peoples.     

全新世北大西洋海面温度变化趋势:观测-模拟对比研究

本文利用Kiel Climate Model(KCM模式)对全新世气候的模拟结果及其与北大西洋表层海水温度(sea surface temperature, 简称SST)重建记录的对比, 探讨了全新世北大西洋SST的变化趋势。浮游植物的长链烯酮不饱和度显示低纬北大西洋SST在全新世期间有升高趋势, 而在中纬和高纬地区表现为显著的下降趋势, 尤其是在中纬北大西洋西部, 最大降温幅度达到7.9℃/9.5ka。浮游有孔虫壳体的镁钙比值显示中纬北大西洋东部及高纬北大西洋有增温趋势, 而在中纬北大西洋西部及低纬北大西洋则有降温趋势, 但变化幅度均比较小, 绝大部分在2℃/9.5ka以下。气候模拟结果显示全新世北大西洋SST变化呈现明显的"三核型"经向模态, 在冬春季以增温为主, 降温限于拉布拉多海东南部的北大西洋海域; 在夏秋季以降温为主, 增温限于低纬和高纬北大西洋海域。模拟与重建的对比显示, 中纬和低纬北大西洋的长链烯酮不饱和度指标以及低纬西部的镁钙比指标可能反映夏秋季海温, 中纬北大西洋东部的镁钙比指标可能反映冬春季海温, 而中纬西部和高纬的镁钙比指标可能对4个季节的SST都有所反映。     

Regional atmospheric circulation change in the North Pacific during the Holocene inferred from lacustrine carbonate oxygen isotopes, Yukon Territory, Canada

Analyses of sediment cores from Jellybean Lake, a small, evaporation-insensitive groundwater-fed lake, provide a record of changes in North Pacific atmospheric circulation for the last ∼7500 yr at 5- to 30-yr resolution. Isotope hydrology data from the southern Yukon indicate that the oxygen isotope composition of water from Jellybean Lake reflects the composition of mean-annual precipitation, δ¹⁸O_p. Recent changes in the δ¹⁸O of Jellybean sedimentary calcite (δ¹⁸O_ca) correspond to changes in the North Pacific Index (NPI), a measure of the intensity and position of the Aleutian Low (AL) pressure system. This suggests that δ¹⁸O_p variability was related to the degree of fractionation during moisture transport from the Gulf of Alaska across the St. Elias Mountains and that Holocene shifts were controlled by the intensity and position of the AL. Following this model, between ∼7500 and 4500 cal yr B.P., long-term trends suggest a predominantly weaker and/or westward AL. Between ∼4500 and 3000 cal yr B.P. the AL shifted eastward or intensified before shifting westward or weakening between ∼3000 and 2000 cal yr B.P. Rapid shifts eastward and/or intensification occurred ∼1200 and 300 cal yr B.P. Holocene changes in North Pacific atmospheric circulation inferred from Jellybean Lake oxygen isotopes correspond with late Holocene glacial advances in the St. Elias Mountains, changes in North Pacific salmon abundance, and shifts in atmospheric circulation over the Beaufort Sea.     

The development of near-surface ground ice during the Holocene at sites near Mayo,Yukon Territory,Canada

An examination of soil thermal and hydrologic regimes at several sites near Mayo, Yukon Territory, and the ground-ice stratigraphy of a thaw-slump headwall close to these sites supports the hypothesis that an ice-rich zone, frequently observed at the base of the active layer, may be due to the annual water balance of permafrost. Observations demonstrate that ice lenses have grown at the top of permafrost in soil tubes installed in 1983. In addition, 90 cm of segregated ice are exposed in the thaw-slump headwall above a thaw unconformity, dated at 8870 ± 200 years BP, but below the base of the present active layer. These data suggest that the rate of water incorporation into permafrost over the last 8000 years in the Mayo area has been at least 0.1 mm yr^?1.     

Settlement over peat on the A5 at Pant Dedwydd near Cerrigydrudion, North Wales

The A5 London to Holyhead trunk road suffers from large and varied settlements at Pant Dedwydd where it crosses a geotrophic peat bog developed on the glacial drift that overlies bedrock of Silurian Denbigh Grits Group. Recent carriageway settlements have created an undulating profile over a 100 m stretch, restricting forward visibility and posing recurring and persistent difficulties for highway maintenance. The highly compressible peat underlies almost 400 m of highway, ranges up to 7 m deep and a typical profile consists of an upper sphagnum peat layer and a basal reedy, woody and sedge grass peat. The highway was originally constructed by Thomas Telford in 1819 as a low floating embankment over the organic terrain. Increases in traffic over the intervening period together with successive asphalt overlays have resulted in a history of major repairs and although records are incomplete it is likely that the carriageway is now over 2 m thick over parts of the bog. Comprehensive geological investigations carried out to characterize the peat deposit included dynamic probe holes, boreholes and a trial pit. No unusual subsurface conditions were identified. However, scrub willow or grey sallow (Salix cinerea) was observed growing in spiraea thickets alongside the deepest hollows in the highway. The willows may contribute to the road subsidence by extraction of water from the peat beneath the carriageway. Accordingly, removal of the scrub willow and conventional re-grading of the carriageway have been recommended to correct the existing problem.     

The relative utility of foraminifera and diatoms for reconstructing late Holocene sea-level change in North Carolina, USA

Foraminifera and diatoms preserved in salt-marsh sediments have been used to produce high-resolution records of Holocene relative sea-level (RSL) change. To determine which of these microfossil groups is most appropriate for this purpose we investigated their relative utility from salt marshes in North Carolina, USA. Regional-scale transfer functions were developed using foraminifera, diatoms and a combination of both (multi-proxy) from three salt marshes (Oregon Inlet, Currituck Barrier Island and Pea Island). We evaluated each approach on the basis of transfer-function performance. Foraminifera, diatoms and multi-proxy-based transfer functions all demonstrated a strong relationship between observed and predicted elevations (r²_jack > 0.74 and RMSEP < 0.05 m), suggesting that they have equal utility. Application of the transfer functions to a fossil core from Salvo to reconstruct former sea levels enabled us to consider relative utility in light of ‘paleo-performance’. Fossil foraminifera had strong modern analogues, whilst diatoms had poor modern analogues making them unreliable. This result reflects the high diversity and site-specific distribution of modern diatoms. Consequently, we used foraminifera to reconstruct RSL change for the period since ∼ AD 1800 using a ²¹⁰Pb- and ¹⁴C-based chronology, and we were able to reconcile this with tide-gauge records.     

Interaction between a mafic melt and host rocks during formation of the Kivakka layered intrusion,North Karelia

The study of interaction between mantle melts and crustal rocks is of great importance for deciphering the evolution of the Earth’s crust and for better understanding the composition of mantle sources, in particular, the degree of their compositional heterogeneity. This work presents the results of Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotopic studies of 37 samples taken from the Kivakka layered intrusion, host rocks, and rocks at the contact. The studies were aimed at verifying the hypothesis of possible crustal contamination of mafic melt during magma chamber crystallization. It was found that the section of the Kivakka layered massif is characterized by initial Sr and Nd isotopic heterogeneity, with negative correlation between initial Nd isotopic ratio and its content. The rocks of the massif have low ɛ_Nd(T) values.     

Tephrochronology of late Wisconsin deglaciation and Holocene glacier fluctuations near Glacier Peak, North Cascade Range, Washington

Tephra layers near Glacier Peak in the North Cascade Range provide limiting dates for four periods of alpine glacier advance. Field relations suggest that late Wisconsin alpine glaciers last advanced prior to the eruption of tephra layers from Glacier Peak about 11,250 yr B.P. Late Wisconsin deglaciation in the central North Cascades was complete prior to the Glacier Peak tephra eruptions. Glaciers again expanded in the early Holocene about 8400 – 8300 yr B.P. Soil formed in alpine meadows during an episode of mild climate in the middle Holocene prior to at least two intervals of glacier expansion: an older episode between 5100 and 3400 yr B.P., and a younger episode within the last 1000 yr.     

Late Holocene relative sea level rise and the Neoglacial history of the Greenland ice sheet

In West Greenland, early and mid Holocene relative sea level (RSL) fall was replaced by late Holocene RSL rise during the Neoglacial, after 4–3 cal. ka BP (thousand calibrated years before present). Here we present the results of an isolation basin RSL study completed near to the coastal town of Sisimiut, in central West Greenland. RSL fell from 14 m above sea level at 5.7 cal. ka BP to reach a lowstand of ?4.0 m at 2.3–1.2 cal. ka BP, before rising by an equivalent amount to present. Differences in the timing and magnitude of the RSL lowstand between this and other sites in West and South Greenland record the varied interplay of local and non‐Greenland RSL processes, notably the reloading of the Earth's crust caused by a Neoglacial expansion of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) and the subsidence associated with the collapse of the Laurentide Ice Sheet forebulge. This means that the timing of the sea level lowstand cannot be used to infer directly when the GIS advanced during the Neoglacial. The rise in Late Holocene RSL is contrary to recently reported bedrock uplift in the Sisimiut area, based on repeat GPS surveys. This indicates that a belt of peripheral subsidence around the current ice sheet margin was more extensive in the late Holocene, and that there has been a switch from subsidence to uplift at some point in the last thousand years or so. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.