Holocene relative sea levels and coastal changes in the lower Cree valley and estuary, SW Scotland, U.K

TY - JOUR

T1 - Holocene relative sea levels and coastal changes in the lower Cree valley and estuary, SW Scotland, U.K

AU - Smith, David E.

AU - Wells, J. M.

AU - Mighall, T. M.

AU - Cullingford, R. A.

AU - Holloway, L. K.

AU - Dawson, S.

AU - Brooks, C. L.

PY - 2003/12

Y1 - 2003/12

N2 - Changes in Holocene (Flandrian) relative sea levels and coastal geomorphology in the lower Cree valley and estuary, SW Scotland, are inferred from detailed morphological and stratigraphical investigations. A graph of relative sea level changes is proposed for the area. Rising relative sea levels during the early Holocene were interrupted at c. 8300-8600 14C years B.P. (c. 9400-9900 calibrated years B.P. , when an extensive estuarine surface was reached at c. -1 m O.D., after which a fluctuating rise culminated at c. 6100-6500 14C B.P. (c. 7000-7500 calibrated years B.P.) in a prominent shoreline and associated estuarine surface measured at 7·7-10·3 m O.D. A subsequent fall in relative sea level was followed by a rise to a shoreline at 7·8-10·1 m O.D., exceeding or reoccupying the earlier shoreline over much of the area after c. 5000 14C B. P. (c. 5,800 calibrated years B.P.), before relative sea level fell to a later shoreline, reached after c. 2900 14C B.P. (c. 3100 calibrated years B.P.) at 5·5-8·0 m O.D., following which relative sea levels fell, ultimately reaching present levels. During these changes, a particular feature of the coastline was the development of a number of barrier systems. The relative sea level changes identified are compared with changes elsewhere in SW Scotland and their wider context is briefly considered.

AB - Changes in Holocene (Flandrian) relative sea levels and coastal geomorphology in the lower Cree valley and estuary, SW Scotland, are inferred from detailed morphological and stratigraphical investigations. A graph of relative sea level changes is proposed for the area. Rising relative sea levels during the early Holocene were interrupted at c. 8300-8600 14C years B.P. (c. 9400-9900 calibrated years B.P. , when an extensive estuarine surface was reached at c. -1 m O.D., after which a fluctuating rise culminated at c. 6100-6500 14C B.P. (c. 7000-7500 calibrated years B.P.) in a prominent shoreline and associated estuarine surface measured at 7·7-10·3 m O.D. A subsequent fall in relative sea level was followed by a rise to a shoreline at 7·8-10·1 m O.D., exceeding or reoccupying the earlier shoreline over much of the area after c. 5000 14C B. P. (c. 5,800 calibrated years B.P.), before relative sea level fell to a later shoreline, reached after c. 2900 14C B.P. (c. 3100 calibrated years B.P.) at 5·5-8·0 m O.D., following which relative sea levels fell, ultimately reaching present levels. During these changes, a particular feature of the coastline was the development of a number of barrier systems. The relative sea level changes identified are compared with changes elsewhere in SW Scotland and their wider context is briefly considered.

KW - Diatoms

KW - Foraminifera

KW - Glacio-isostasy

KW - Morphology

KW - Ostracoda

KW - Particle size

KW - Pollen

KW - Shoreline

KW - Stratigraphy

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/1542320713

U2 - 10.1017/S0263593300000456

DO - 10.1017/S0263593300000456

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:1542320713

SN - 0263-5933

VL - 93

SP - 301

EP - 331

JO - Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Earth Sciences

JF - Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Earth Sciences

IS - 4

ER -