6533b7dafe1ef96bd126e239
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Preservation of modern and mis 5.5 erosional landforms and biological structures as sea level markers: A matter of luck?
John A. SchembriMarco TavianiMarco TavianiPaolo OrrùEgidio TrainitoPaolo MontagnaFabio CanzianiYuri DonnoFrancesco CaldareriElisa VenturiniElisa VenturiniEleonora De SabataThalassia GiacconeFiorenza TorricellaChiara BoccaliSilas DeanValeria Lo PrestiRitienne GauciRenato ChemelloAlessandro PorquedduSara BiolchiGiacomo DeianaAlice BusettiMatteo VacchiF. AntonioliMauro AgateJoanna Causon DeguaraElisa Dal BoStefano FurlaniAugusto NavoneValeria Vacchersubject
Marine isotope stageSettore BIO/07 - EcologiaErosion -- Mediterranean RegionBiological indicators; Coastal geomorphology; Geoswim; Landforms; Mediterranean Sea; MIS 5.5; Sea level change010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciencesGeography Planning and DevelopmentGeoswimAquatic ScienceCoastal geography010502 geochemistry & geophysicsBiological indicator01 natural sciencesBiochemistryNeotectonics -- Mediterranean RegionMediterranean seaMediterranean SeaSea level changeTD201-500Sea level0105 earth and related environmental sciencesWater Science and TechnologyShoregeographyPast sea levelgeography.geographical_feature_categorycoastal geomorphologyWater supply for domestic and industrial purposesCoast changes -- Mediterranean Region -- Case studiesSubsidenceHydraulic engineeringcoastal geomorphology MIS 5.5 landforms biological indicators sea level change Mediterranean Sea GeoswimSettore GEO/01 - Paleontologia E Paleoecologiabiological indicatorsCoastal geomorphologyMIS 5Sea level -- Mediterranean RegionMIS 5.5LandformInterglacialBeach erosion -- Mediterranean RegionPhysical geographyTC1-978landformssea level changeGeologydescription
The Mediterranean Basin is characterized by a significant variability in tectonic behaviour, ranging from subsidence to uplifting. However, those coastal areas considered to be tectonically stable show coastal landforms at elevations consistent with eustatic and isostatic sea level change models. In particular, geomorphological indicators—such as tidal notches or shore platforms—are often used to define the tectonic stability of the Mediterranean coasts. We present the results of swim surveys in nine rocky coastal sectors in the central Mediterranean Sea using the Geoswim approach. The entire route was covered in 22 days for a total distance of 158.5 km. All surveyed sites are considered to have been tectonically stable since the last interglacial (Marine Isotope Stage 5.5 [MIS 5.5]), because related sea level markers fit well with sea level rise models. The analysis of visual observations and punctual measurements highlighted that, with respect to the total length of surveyed coast, the occurrence of tidal notches, shore platforms, and other indicators accounts for 85% of the modern coastline, and only 1% of the MIS 5.5 equivalent. Therefore, only 1% of the surveyed coast showed the presence of fossil markers of paleo sea levels above the datum. This significant difference is mainly attributable to erosion processes that did not allow the preservation of the geomorphic evidence of past sea level stands. In the end, our research method showed that the feasibility of applying such markers to define long-term tectonic behaviour is much higher in areas where pre-modern indicators have not been erased, such as at sites with hard bedrock previously covered by post-MIS 5.5 continental deposits, e.g., Sardinia, the Egadi Islands, Ansedonia, Gaeta, and Circeo. In general, the chances of finding such preserved indicators are very low.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-08-02 |