Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sea-level Changes during the Last 10,000 Years

  • Chapter
Introduction to Coastline Development

Part of the book series: Geographical Readings

Abstract

In this paper the results of various studies of sea-level changes are evaluated. The main problem in all studies is the possibility that tectonic movements have influenced observed levels. In consequence, opinions on eustatic sea-level changes during the last 10,000 years are rather divergent. Some agreement has been reached on the movements of early Holocene sea-level, but the changes in level during the last 5,000 years are much disputed. Three different opinions on the movements of eustatic sea-level are held: an oscillating, a steady and a rising sea-level. At the present time the rising sea-level concept seems the most likely. Evidences for high Post-glacial sea-level stages are questionable.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Bakker, j. p. (1948) ‘morfologisch onderzoek van barradeel en zijn betekenis voor het inzicht in de subatlantische transgressie en het verspreidingsbeeld der terpen’, kon. ned. akad. wet. (Amsterdam) II 121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennema, J. (1954) ‘Holocene movements of land and sea-level in the coastal area of the Netherlands’, Geol. Mijnb., n.s., XVI 254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloom, A. L., and Stuiver, M. (1963) ‘Submergence of the Connecticut coast’, Science, CXXXIX 332.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brandt, G., Hageman, B. P., Jelgersma, S., and Sindowski, K. H. (1965) ‘Die lithostratigraphische Unterteilung des marinen Holozäns an der Nordseeküste’, Geol. J., LXXXII 365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broecker, W. S. (1965) ‘Isotope geochemistry and the Pleistocene climatic record’, in The Quaternary of the United States, INQUA VII Congress (Princeton, N.J.) p. 737.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broecker, W. S. and Thurber, D. L. (1965) ‘Uranium-series dating of corals and oölites from Bahaman and Florida Key limestones’, Science, CXLIX 58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, J. M., and Smith, W. G. (1964) ‘Late recent rise of sea level’, Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., LXXV 833.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curray, J. R. (1960) ‘Sediments and history of Holocene transgression, continental shelf, north-west Gulf of Mexico’, Amer. Assoc. Petr. Geol. (1951–8) 221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curray, J. R. (1961) ‘Late Quaternary sea-level: a discussion’, Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., LXXII 1707.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curray, J. R. (1965) ‘Late Quaternary history, continental shelves of the United States’, in The Quaternary of the United States, INQUA VII Congress (Princeton, N.J.) p. 723.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daly, R. A. (1920) ‘A recent world-wide sinking of ocean level’, Geol. Mag., LVII 246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daly, R. A. (1934) The Changing World of the Ice Age (Yale Univ. Press, New Haven). Emery, K. O., Tracey, J. I., Jr., and Land, H. S. (1954) ‘Geology of Bikini and nearby atolls. Pt. I: Geology’, U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 260-A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairbridge, R. W. (1961) ‘Eustatic changes in sea-level’, Phys. Chem. Earth, v 99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisk, H. N. (1951) ‘Loess and Quaternary geology of the Lower Mississippi Valley’, J. Geol., LIX 333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisk, H. N. and McFarlan, E. (1955) ‘Late Quaternary deposits of the Mississippi River’, Geol. Soc. Amer., Special Paper, LXII 279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilette, H. P. (1938) ‘Coincidence of some climate and sea-level cycles’, Pan-Amer. Geologist, LXX 279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gill, E. D. (1961) ‘Change in the level of the sea relative to the land in Australia during the Quaternary era’, Z. Geomorphol. Suppl., III 73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gill, E. D. (1965) ‘Radiocarbon dating of past sea-levels in south-east Australia’, Abstracts, INQUA VII Congress (Boulder, Colorado, p. 167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Godwin, H., Suggate, R. P., and Willis, E. H. (1958) ‘Radiocarbon dating of the eustatic rise in ocean level’, Nature, CLXXXI 1518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gould, H. R., and McFarlan, E. (1959) ‘Geologic history of Chenier plain, south-western Louisiana’, Trans. Gulf Coast Assoc. Geol. Soc., IX

    Google Scholar 

  • Gourinard, Y. (1958) I. ‘Recherches sur la géologie du littoral Oranais’, II. ‘Épirogenése et nivellements’, Serv. Carte Géol. Alg., VI 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hails, J. R. (1965) ‘The Late Pleistocene and Recent history of the Macleay Valley and adjacent coastal areas, mid-north coast of New South Wales’, Abstracts, INQUA VII Congress (Boulder, Colorado) p. 187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoyt, J. H., Weimer, R. J., and Henry, V. J. J R. (1964) ‘Late Pleistocene and recent sedimentation, central Georgia coast, U.S.A.’, in Developments in Sedimentology (Elsevier, Amsterdam) 1170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoyt, J. H., Weimer, R. J., and Henry, V. J. J R. (1965) ‘Age of Pleistocene shoreline deposits, coastal Georgia’, Abstracts, INQUA VII Congress (Boulder, Colorado) p. 228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jelgersma, S. (1961) ‘Holocene sea-level changes in the Netherlands’, Med. Geol. Sticht., series C—VI, 101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamb, H. H. (1964) ‘Atmospheric circulations and climatic changes in Europe since 800 A.D.’, Report, INQUA VI Congress (Warsaw, 1961) p. 291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Blanc, R. J., and Bernard, H. A. (1954) ‘Résumé of late recent geological history of the Gulf Coast’, Geol. Mijnb., n.s. XVI 185.

    Google Scholar 

  • McFarlan, E. (1961) ‘Radiocarbon dating of Late Quaternary deposits, South Louisiana’, Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., XXII 129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKee, E. D. (1959) ‘Storm sediments on a Pacific atoll’, J. Sed. Petr., XXIX (3) 354.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacNeil, S. F. (1950) ‘Pleistocene shorelines in Florida and Georgia’, U.S. Geol. Survey, Prof. Pap. 221-f, p. 95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pons, L. J., Jelgersma, S., Wiggers, A. J., and Jong, J. D. De (1963) ‘Evolution of the Netherlands coastal area during the Holocene’, Verh. Kon. Ned. Geol., Mijnbouwk. Gen., Geol. Serie, XXI (2) 197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pons, L. J. and Wiggers, A. J. (1959–60) ‘De holocene wordingsgeschiedenis van Noordholland en het Zuiderzeegebied’, I and II, Tijd. Kon. Ned. Aardr. Gen., LXXVI 104; LXXVII 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Redfield, A. C., and Rubin, M. (1962) ‘The age of salt marsh peat and its relation to recent changes in sea-level at Barnstable, Massachusetts’, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., XLVIII 1728.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schofield, J. C. (1960) ‘Sea-level fluctuations during the past four thousand years’, Nature, CLXXXV 836.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schofield, J. C. (1964) ‘Post-glacial sea-levels and isostatic uplift’, N.Z. J. Geol. Geophys., VVI (2) 359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scholl, D. W. (1964) ‘Recent sedimentary record in mangrove swamps and rise in sea-level over the south-western coast of Florida’, Pt. 1, Marine Geol., 1344. — (1965) ibid., Pt. 2, II 343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scholl, D. W. and Stuiver, M. (1965) ‘Recetlt submergence of south Florida: comparison with adjacent coasts and other eustatic data’ (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shepard, F. P. (1960) ‘Rise of sea-level along north-west Gulf of Mexico: recent sediments’, Amer. Assoc. Petr. Geol. (1951–8) 338.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shepard, F. P. (1963) ‘Thirty-five thousand years of sea-level’, in Essays in Marine Geology (Univ. S. Calif. Press, Los Angeles) 201 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shepard, F. P. (1964) ‘Sea-level changes in the past 6,000 years; possible archaeological significance’, Science, CXLIII 574.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shepard, F. P. and Curray, J. R. (1965) ‘C determinations of sea-level changes in stable areas’, Abstracts, Internat. Assoc. Quatern. Research, VII International Congress, p. 424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shepard, F. P. and Suess, H. E. (1956) ‘Rate of post-glacial rise of sea-level’, Science, CXXIII 1082.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Straaten, L. M. J. U. Van (1954) ‘Radiocarbon datings and changes of sea-level at Velzen (Netherlands)’, Geol. Mijnb., n.s., XVI 247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesch, P. (1947) ‘De niveauveranderingen en de oudheidkundige verschijnselen’, in Een kwart eeuw oudheidkundig bodemonderzoek, Gedenkboek A. E. van Giffen, p.43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thurber, D. L., BroeCker, W. S., Potrasz, H. A., and Blanchard, R. L. (1965) ‘Uranium series ages of coral from Pacific atolls’, Science (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • WArd, W. T. (1965) ‘Eustatic and climatic history of the Adelaide area, south Australia’, J. Geol., LXXII 592.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • West, R. G., and Sparks, B. W. (1961) ‘Coastal interglacial deposits of the English Channel’, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. B (London) CCXLIII 95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willis, E. H. (1961) ‘Marine transgression sequences in the English Fenlands’, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., XCV (1) 368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zagwijn, W. H. (1961) ‘Vegetation, climate and radiocarbon datings in the Late Pleistocene of the Netherlands’, Pt. I, Med. Geol. Sticht., n.s., XIV 15.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. S. Jelgersma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

J. A. Steers

Copyright information

© 1971 Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Jelgersma, S. (1971). Sea-level Changes during the Last 10,000 Years. In: Steers, J.A. (eds) Introduction to Coastline Development. Geographical Readings. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-15422-7_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation