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Encyclopedia of Coastal Science pp 1–11Cite as

Geochronology

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Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

Definitions

In coastal research, the terms “geochronology ” or “geochronostratigraphy ” are used to determine time scales for coastal processes and coastal evolution utilizing relative stratigraphic techniques (morpho-, pedo-, bio-, lithostratigraphy) and absolute dating methods, whereas relative and absolute approaches complement each other.

Dating Methods

In the last 30 years, applications of the numerical (“absolute”) dating of coastal structures, sediments, and processes were improved, new dating methods were established, and the precision and accuracy of existing age determination methods were considerably increased. Numerous papers and some books describe dating techniques in Quaternary sciences in detail (e.g., Rink and Thompson 2015; Malainey 2011; Walker 2005).

Mass spectrometric radiocarbon, thorium-230/uranium-234 isotope (Th/U), electron spin resonance (ESR), optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), and terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide (TCN) dating are the most commonly used...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Geography and Landscape Studies, University of Bamberg, Am Kranen 1, D-96045, Bamberg, Germany

    Gerhard Schellmann

  2. Institute of Geography, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 45, D-50674, Köln, Germany

    Helmut Brückner & Dominik Brill

Authors
  1. Gerhard Schellmann
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  2. Helmut Brückner
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  3. Dominik Brill
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gerhard Schellmann .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Coastal Education & Research Foundation, Fletcher, North Carolina, USA

    Charles W. Finkl

  2. Coastal Education & Research Foundation , Coconut Creek, Florida, USA

    Christopher Makowski

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Schellmann, G., Brückner, H., Brill, D. (2018). Geochronology. In: Finkl, C., Makowski, C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Coastal Science . Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48657-4_147-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48657-4_147-2

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-48657-4

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