Geomorphic expression of late Quaternary sea level changes along the southern Saurashtra coast, western India

Abstract

Geomorphic expression of land-sea interaction is preserved in the form of abandoned cliffs, marine terraces, shore platforms and marine notches along the southern Saurashtra coast. These features have been used to ascertain the magnitude of sea level changes during late Quaternary. Notch morphology and associated biological encrustation have been used to estimate the magnitude and duration of palaeo-sea strands. Marine notches and other erosive features occurring between 12 and 15 m above the present Biological Mean Sea Level (BMSL) are attributed to the last interglacial corresponding to the Marine Isotopic Stage 5 (MIS-5). However, 6 to 9 m upliftment of the coastal fringe is attributed to this sea level. The second major high sea strand was identified during the mid-Holocene when the sea rose 2 m above the present level. Notches corresponding to this high sea level are recorded 4 to 5 m above the present BMSL.

Coastal notches: Their morphology, formation, and function

“…Marine notches, often with associated features such as shore platforms or reef flats, caves, and, beach sediments, have been used by many workers to reconstruct palaeosea RSL and to constrain interglacial, interstadial, and glacial stillstands during the Pleistocene (Stoddart, 1969;Woodroffe et al, 1983;Nunn et al, 2002: Bhatt andBhonde, 2006;Hearty et al, 2007;Mylroie and Mylroie, 2009;Woodroffe and Webster, 2014).…”

Testing the numerical models for boulder transport through high energy marine wave event: An example from southern Saurashtra, western India

“…The coastline of Navabandar near Diu on a southern tip of Saurashtra is irregular with deeply cut rocky cliffs as high as 15 m, narrow embayment, headland and beach configuring the overall marine processes. Tidal notches are carved out in the miliolitic limestone 2e4 m above the present day sea level that has been used to interpret relative sea level changes and neotectonics in the area (Pant and Juyal, 1993;Bhatt and Bhonde, 2006). Submerged jointed platforms are exposed to the abrasive action of the sea-waves during the low tide levels.…”

Joints as fingerprints of stress in the quaternary carbonate deposits along coastal Saurashtra, Western India

“…1993a, b; Bhatt and Bhonde, 2006). Recent seismic activities in the Jamnagar and Junagadh districts of Saurashtra have also drawn the attention of earth scientists towards neotectonic phenomena.…”