Late Quaternary Sea-Level Change in South Africa

Ramsay, Peter J.; Cooper, J. Andrew G.

doi:10.1006/qres.2001.2290

Cited by 206 publications

(157 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The most recent major sea-level regression occurred during the last glacial maximum (LGM) about 18,000 years ago, when the coastline was about 130 m below the present-day levels (Tankard, 1976;Rogers, 1985;Ramsay & Cooper, 2002). A major offshore feature of the area where P. burchelli occurs is the Agulhas Bank.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The genetic legacy of lower sea levels: does the confluence of rivers during the last glacial maximum explain the contemporary distribution of a primary freshwater fish (Pseudobarbus burchelli, Cyprinidae) across isolated river systems?

et al. 2013

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The primary freshwater fish Pseudobarbus burchelli (Smith 1841) occurs across four presently isolated river systems in the south-western cape floristic region of South Africa. Mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b (701 base pairs) and control region (601 base pairs) genes were sequenced to assess the evolutionary history of P. burchelli and evaluate the role of climatic and landscape changes in shaping patterns of genetic variation in this species. We identified three historically isolated lineages in P. burchelli: a widespread lineage that occurs across three isolated river systems and two geographically restricted lineages. The results were evaluated against predictions of the confluence of river systems during low sea levels of the last glacial maximum. Occurrence of the widespread Breede lineage in the Duiwenhoks River system is consistent with reconstructed palaeoriver systems. However, the occurrence of this lineage in the Goukou river system that formed part of the eastern Gourits-Goukou palaeoriver system can only be explained by translocation or a recent river capture or episodic inundation of low drainage divides. Extreme ecological gradients or the potential presence of instream physical barriers could have prevented an exchange of lineages between the Breede and Heuningnes river systems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The genetic legacy of lower sea levels: does the confluence of rivers during the last glacial maximum explain the contemporary distribution of a primary freshwater fish (Pseudobarbus burchelli, Cyprinidae) across isolated river systems?

et al. 2013

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“…South African sea level reconstructions (Compton, 2006;Ramsay and Cooper, 2002) reveal that the sampling site (located in about 40 m water depth) was not significantly influenced by fluctuations during the last 5 kyr. Riverbank, flood deposit and suspension load (obtained by filtering ca.…”

Section: Sediment Coring and Catchment Samplesmentioning

confidence: 96%

Southern Hemisphere anticyclonic circulation drives oceanic and climatic conditions in late Holocene southernmost Africa

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Due to the high sensitivity of southern Africa to climate change, a reliable understanding of its hydrological system is crucial. Recent studies of the regional climatic system have revealed a highly complex interplay of forcing factors on precipitation regimes. This includes the influence of the tropical easterlies, the strength of the southern hemispheric westerlies as well as sea surface temperatures along the coast of the subcontinent. However, very few marine records have been available in order to study the coupling of marine and atmospheric circulation systems. Here we present results from a marine sediment core, recovered in shallow waters off the Gouritz River mouth on the south coast of South Africa. Core GeoB18308-1 allows a closer view of the last ∼ 4 kyr. Climate sensitive organic proxies, like the distribution and isotopic composition of plant-wax lipids as well as indicators for sea surface temperatures and soil input, give information on oceanographic and hydrologic changes during the recorded time period. Moreover, the micropaleontology, mineralogical and elemental composition of the sediments reflect the variability of the terrigenous input to the core site. The combination of down-core sediment signatures and a catchment-wide provenance study indicate that the Little Ice Age (∼ 300-650 cal yr BP) was characterized by climatic conditions favorable to torrential flood events. The Medieval Climate Anomaly (∼ 950-650 cal yr BP) is expressed by lower sea surface temperatures in the Mossel Bay area and humid conditions in the Gouritz River catchment.These new results suggest that the coincidence of humid conditions and cooler sea surface temperatures along the south coast of South Africa resulted from a strengthened and more southerly anticyclonic circulation. Most probably, the transport of moisture from the Indian Ocean by strong subtropical easterlies was coupled with Agulhas Bank upwelling pulses, which were initiated by an increase in Agulhas Current strength.

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“…In the far-field location of mainland southeastern Africa (e.g., South Africa, Zanzibar, Mozambique), uncertainties exist regarding the timing and amplitude of a mid-Holocene highstand [42,[142][143][144] caused primarily by continental levering [39]. Part of these uncertainties results from the large distances between field sites (e.g., South Africa to Mozambique) and the varied RSL reconstruction methods used [145].…”

Section: Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Holocene Relative Sea-Level Changes from Near-, Intermediate-, and Far-Field Locations

Khan

Ashe

Shaw

et al. 2015

Curr Clim Change Rep

117

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Holocene relative sea-level (RSL) records exhibit spatial and temporal variability that arises mainly from the interaction of eustatic (land ice volume and thermal expansion) and isostatic (glacio-and hydro-) factors. We fit RSL histories from near-, intermediate-, and far-field locations with noisy-input Gaussian process models to assess rates of RSL change. Records from near-field regions (e.g., Antarctica, Greenland, Canada, Sweden, and Scotland) reveal a complex pattern of RSL fall from a maximum marine limit due to the net effect of eustatic sea-level rise and glacio-isostatic uplift with rates of RSL fall as great as −69±9 m/ka. Intermediatefield regions (e.g., mid-Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the USA, Netherlands, Southern France, St. Croix) display variable rates of RSL rise from the cumulative effect of eustatic and isostatic factors. Fast rates of RSL rise (up to 10±1 m/ka) are found in the early Holocene in regions near the center of forebulge collapse. Far-field RSL records exhibit a midHolocene highstand, the timing (between 8 and 4 ka) and magnitude (between <1 and 6 m) of which varies among South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania regions.

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Late Quaternary Sea-Level Change in South Africa

Cited by 206 publications

References 29 publications

The genetic legacy of lower sea levels: does the confluence of rivers during the last glacial maximum explain the contemporary distribution of a primary freshwater fish (Pseudobarbus burchelli, Cyprinidae) across isolated river systems?

The genetic legacy of lower sea levels: does the confluence of rivers during the last glacial maximum explain the contemporary distribution of a primary freshwater fish (Pseudobarbus burchelli, Cyprinidae) across isolated river systems?

Southern Hemisphere anticyclonic circulation drives oceanic and climatic conditions in late Holocene southernmost Africa

Holocene Relative Sea-Level Changes from Near-, Intermediate-, and Far-Field Locations

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