Compilation of Last Interglacial (Marine Isotope Stage 5e) sea-level indicators in the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the east coast of Florida, USA

Abstract

Abstract. This paper provides a summary of published sea-level archives representing the past position of sea level during the Last Interglacial sea-level highstand in the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the eastern (Atlantic) coast of Florida, USA. These data were assembled as part of a community effort to build the World Atlas of Last Interglacial Shorelines (WALIS) database. Shallow marine deposits from this sea-level highstand are widespread across the region and are dominated by carbonate sedimentary features. In addition to depositional (constructional) sedimentary indicators of past sea-level position, there is also evidence of erosion, dissolution, and/or subaerial exposure in places that can place an upper limit on the position of sea level. The sea-level indicators that have been observed within this region and attributed to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e include corals, oolites, and other coastal sedimentary features. Here we compile a total of 50 relative sea-level indicators including 36 in the Bahamas, three in West Caicos, and a remaining 10 for the eastern seaboard of Florida. We have also compiled U-Th age data for 24 fossil corals and 56 oolite samples. While some of these archives have been dated using U-Th disequilibrium methods, amino acid racemization, or optically stimulated luminescence, other features have more uncertain ages that have been deduced in the context of regional mapping and stratigraphy. Sedimentary archives in this region that constrain the elevation of the past position of sea level are associated with uncertainties that range from a couple of decimeters to several meters. Across the Bahamas and on West Caicos, one of the observations that emerges from this compilation is that estimation of sea-level position in this region during Marine Isotope Stage 5e is complicated by widespread stratigraphic evidence for at least one sea-level oscillation. This evidence is defined by submarine features separated by erosion and subaerial exposure, meaning that there were likely multiple distinct peaks in sea level rather than just one. To this end, the timing of these individual sea-level indicators becomes important when compiling and comparing data across the region given that different archives may have formed during different sub-orbital peaks in sea level. The database can be found at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5596898 (Dutton et al., 2021).

Comparison and Synthesis of Sea‐Level and Deep‐Sea Temperature Variations Over the Past 40 Million Years

“…Finally, we acknowledge a plethora of other RSL reconstruction methods from coral microatolls, salt‐marsh and mud‐flat deposits, coastal deposits and drowned coastlines, and structures such as Roman fishtanks (e.g., Barry et al., 2008; Dabrio et al., 2011; Dutton et al., 2022; Engelhart & Horton, 2012; Gehrels, 1994, 2000; Gehrels et al., 2001; Hallmann et al., 2018; Hanebuth et al., 2000, 2009; Hibbert et al., 2018; Ishiwa et al., 2016; Kemp et al., 2011; Khan et al., 2017; Kienast et al., 2003; S. E. Lewis et al., 2013; Meltzner et al., 2017; Shennan & Horton, 2002; Shennan et al., 2015; Sivan et al., 2001, 2004, 2016; van de Plassche, 1986; S. A. Woodroffe & Horton, 2005; Yokoyama et al., 2000, 2006; Yokoyama, De Deckker, et al., 2001; and references therein). We do not include these methods because of their typically limited temporal coverage through (mainly) the last 20,000 years, and occasionally further back to the last interglacial.…”

“…Finally, we acknowledge a plethora of other RSL reconstruction methods from coral microatolls, salt-marsh and mud-flat deposits, coastal deposits and drowned coastlines, and structures such as Roman fishtanks (e.g., Barry et al, 2008;Dabrio et al, 2011;Dutton et al, 2022;Engelhart & Horton, 2012;Gehrels, 1994Gehrels, , 2000Gehrels et al, 2001;Hallmann et al, 2018;Hanebuth et al, 2000Hanebuth et al, , 2009Hibbert et al, 2018;Ishiwa et al, 2016;Kemp et al, 2011;Khan et al, 2017;Kienast et al, 2003;S. E. Lewis et al, 2013;Meltzner et al, 2017;Shennan & Horton, 2002;Shennan et al, 2015;Sivan et al, 2001Sivan et al, , 2004Sivan et al, , 2016van de Plassche, 1986;S.…”

Sea-level oscillations within the Last Interglacial: insights from coral reef stratigraphic forward modelling

“…1C; e.g., Blanchon, 2010). All these features have been described at several locations globally (see the compilation in Hearty et al, 2007, Rohling et al, 2019, and Dutton et al, 2022, but their origin is still controversial. The highest terrace in this area is estimated to be several million years old.…”