A review of Last Interglacial sea-level proxies in the Western Atlantic and Southwestern Caribbean, from Brazil to Honduras

Abstract

Abstract. In this paper, we use a standardized template for Pleistocene sea-level data to review last interglacial (MIS 5) sea-level indicators along the coasts of the Western Atlantic and Southwestern Caribbean, on a transect spanning from Brazil to Honduras, and including the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. Our review produced 55 standardized datapoints, each assigned to one or more geochronological constraints. Sea-level index points are well preserved along the Brazilian coasts, providing an almost continuous north-to-south transect. Despite this and the variety of relative sea-level indicators (i.e. beach deposits, coral reef terraces, marine terraces, Ophiomorpha burrows, and tidal notches) our data compilation highlights several concerns related to age control and the accuracy of elevation measurements. We identify that the coasts of Northern Brazil, French Guyana, Suriname, Guyana, and Venezuela would benefit from a renewed study of Pleistocene sea-level indicators, as it was not possible to identify sea-level index for the last interglacial coastal outcrops along the coasts of these countries. Future research must also be directed at improving the chronological control at several locations, and several sites would benefit from re-measurement of sea-level index points using more accurate elevation measurement techniques. Our database contribution represents a starting point to detail the last interglacial sea-level history in this area. The database is available at the following link: https://zenodo.org/record/4727850 (Version 1.01; Rubio-Sandoval et al., 2021).

Modeled storm surge changes in a warmer world: the Last Interglacial

“…This was the last period of the Earth's past when large parts of the globe were characterized by a climate slightly warmer than at present, at least in the Northern Hemisphere (CAPE_Members, 2006;Hoffman et al, 2017;McKay et al, 2011;Shackleton et al, 2020;Turney et al, 2020a;Turney and Jones, 2010). On average, LIG polar temperatures were several degrees higher than pre-industrially (Neem_Community_Members, 2013;Jouzel et al, 2007), ice sheets were smaller (Turney et al, 2020b;Rohling et al, 2019) and sea levels were higher than today (Dutton et al, 2015a, b;Dyer et al, 2021;Kopp et al, 2009;Rubio-Sandoval et al, 2021). Although key differences in the forcing of LIG and future climates prevent the use of the LIG as a direct analog for the future (Lunt et al, 2013;Otto-Bliesner et al, 2013), its similarity with projected future thermal changes in some regions (especially the Northern Hemisphere) makes it a relevant process analog for warmer climate conditions.…”

Last Interglacial sea-level data points from Northwest Europe

“…Documen-tation of marine terraces and raised beaches (from setting A) is kept short as these SLIP types had been introduced and used in earlier WALIS publications (e.g. Rubio-Sandoval et al, 2021;Cerrone et al, 2021, in this special issue;and Rovere et al, 2016). SLIP types from estuarine river mouth, lagoonal and incised valley alluvial settings and the studyarea-specific glaciogenic isolation basins (i.e.…”