6533b853fe1ef96bd12ac0fd

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Submerged speleothems and sea level reconstructions: a global overview and new results from the Mediterranean Sea

Franco Foresta MartinStefano FurlaniEdwige Pons-branchuPaolo StocchiValeria VaccherPaolo MontagnaMaurizio Gasparo MorticelliLucio CalcagnileJonathan CecchinelFabrizio AntonioliGianluca QuartaValeria Lo Presti

subject

Sea level change010506 paleontologyStalactitevertical tectonic movementGeography Planning and DevelopmentAquatic Science010502 geochemistry & geophysics01 natural sciencesBiochemistryMediterranean seaCaveSea-level changeSea cave14. Life underwaterTD201-500Sea levelPhreatic[SDU.STU.OC]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/OceanographySea caves0105 earth and related environmental sciencesWater Science and Technology[SDU.STU.TE]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Tectonicsgeographygeography.geographical_feature_categoryWater supply for domestic and industrial purposesPhreatic speleothemHydraulic engineeringFavignana; Phreatic speleothem; Sea caves; Sea-level change; Submerged speleothem; Ustica; Vertical tectonic movementsFavignanaOceanographyUsticaQuaternaryFavignana Phreatic speleothem Sea caves Sea-level change Submerged speleothem Ustica Vertical tectonic movementsTC1-978Submerged speleothemVertical tectonic movementsGeology

description

This study presents a global overview of the submerged speleothems used to reconstruct paleo sea levels and reports new results from two stalactites collected in the Mediterranean Sea. Coastal cave deposits significantly contributed to the understanding of global and regional sea-level variations during the Middle and Late Quaternary. The studied speleothems cover the last 1.4 Myr and focused mainly on Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 1, 2, 3, 5.1, 5.3, 5.5, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 and 7.5. The results indicate that submerged speleothems represent extraordinary archives that can provide detailed information on former sea-level changes. The two stalactites collected in the central Mediterranean Sea, at Favignana and Ustica islands (Sicily, Italy), are both characterized by continental, phreatic or marine layers. The U-Th and 14C ages of the new speleothems provide results of great interest for relative sea-level changes over the last 1000 years.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2021-01-01
10.3390/w13121663https://doi.org/10.3390/w13121663