Title: LATE HOLOCENE SEA-LEVEL CHANGES IN FILDES PENINSULA,ANTARCTICA
Abstract:Sea level change in Antarctica is of current interest because of its possible sensitivity to global climate change. A detailed record of sea level changes during the Late Holocene is preserved in the ...Sea level change in Antarctica is of current interest because of its possible sensitivity to global climate change. A detailed record of sea level changes during the Late Holocene is preserved in the coastal environment of Fildes Peninsula, where 6 coral reef terraces were found. The radiocarbon ages of the moss peat banks on the terrace (altitude 18.00m), the diatom layer deposited in the ancient lake on the terrace (altitude 5.28m), and the marine alga layers deposited in the beach were analyzed. The results show: (1) The radiocarbon ages of the upper (5.5~8.0cm), the middle (18.0~20.0cm) , and the lower (36.0~38.0cm) moss peat layer are the present, (671±20)aBP and (3265±120)aBP respectively. It is shown by calculation that the mean accumulation rates of the subsurface layer (6.7~17.0cm) of the peat core and the lower layer (19.0~37.0cm) of the peat core are 0.195mm·a -1 and 0.069mm·a -1 respectively. Based on the mean accumulation rate and the radiocarbon age of the lower peat layer, it is shown by calculation that the forming age of the bottom peat is about 4300aBP. (2) The radiocarbon age of the marine alga in the layer of 15~17cm is (885±70)aBP, that in the layer of 92~95cm is (1 440±75)aBP, and the radiocarbon age of the modern marine alga is (695±70)aBP. And the ages were used to correct for the carbon reservoir effect of the marine alga. In the ancient lake bottom on the terrace, another 100cm×60cm profile was drilled, in which a layer of diatom deposited between 35 and 38cm with radiocarbon age of (2430±75)aBP exists. (3) During the period of 4300~2430aBP, the sea level of Fildes Peninsula fell 11.16 meters at an average of 0.60cm·a -1 ; during the period of 2430~800aBP, the sea level fell 4.98 meters at an average of 0.31cm·a -1 ; during the period of 800~230aBP, the sea level of Fildes Peninsula rose 78cm, the average rate of sea level rise was 0.14cm·a -1 ; during the last 230 years, the sea level rose 16cm, the average rate of sea level rise was 0.07cm·a -1 . Thus the average rate of sea level rise in Fildes Peninsula has gone up at a slower rate.Read More
Publication Year: 2002
Publication Date: 2002-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 1
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