Near-field sea-level variability in northwest Europe and ice sheet stability during the last interglacial

Abstract

(2015) 'Near-eld sea-level variability in northwest Europe and ice sheet stability during the last interglacial.', Quaternary science reviews., 126 . pp. 26-40. Further information on publisher's website: Use policyThe full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-pro t purposes provided that:• a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in DRO • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.Please consult the full DRO policy for further details. Global sea level during the Last Interglacial (LIG, Marine Isotope Sub-stage 5e) peaked 28 between c. 5.5 and 9 m above present, implying significant melt from Greenland and Antarctica.

Last interglacial (MIS 5e) sea-level determined from a tectonically stable, far-field location, Eyre Peninsula, southern Australia

“…Subsequent investigations have revealed geographical variability at a global-scale in relative sea level for the last interglacial maximum, with observations tending to range between 3 to 9 m APSL (Hearty et al 2007;Kopp et al 2009;Long et al 2015). Relative sea levels during the course of the last interglacial maximum (MIS 5e) are likely to have varied systematically around the globe, as noted for the current, Holocene interglacial (e.g.…”

“…Based on detailed mapping and geochronological investigations of the coral reef successions of Barbados, Schellmann and Radtke (2004a,b) m APSL (Hearty et al 2007;Kopp et al 2009;Long et al 2015).…”

“…These effects are particularly compounded in some settings by the incomplete relaxation of the crust-mantle system at the time of sedimentation such as during the late last interglacial (MIS 5a, 85-80 ka) on the North American Atlantic Coastal Plain (Wehmiller et al 2004). Collectively, the effects of isostatic processes are most evident in nearand intermediate-field sites to former ice sheets (Long et al 2015). For example, palaeosea level observations for last interglacial successions on the northern Atlantic Coastal Plain of North America have been affected by the incomplete relaxation of the crust-mantle system following the penultimate glaciation (MIS 6), as well as adjustments that have occurred since the withdrawal of the Laurentide Ice Sheet following the Last Glacial Maximum (Lambeck, Purcell & Dutton 2012).…”

Eastern Mediterranean sea levels through the last interglacial from a coastal-marine sequence in northern Israel

“…Further, Long et al, 2015 contrast the multiple records of mid to low latitude RSL change during MIS5e with highlatitude records for northwest Europe that display no major RSL oscillations for this period. Although Long et al (2015) model the North Sea region as being potentially insensitive to rapid ice mass loss in Greenland, the study raises valid questions regarding the source of RSL oscillations during MIS5e.…”

“…In Western Australia, sea-level indicators were interpreted in terms of a prolonged flat highstand through MIS5e (Dutton and Lambeck, 2012), but subsequent research inferred that relative sea level in this area comprised an initial highstand, controlled by glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) processes, followed by a sharp upward jump (O'Leary et al, 2013). Further, Long et al, 2015 contrast the multiple records of mid to low latitude RSL change during MIS5e with highlatitude records for northwest Europe that display no major RSL oscillations for this period. Although Long et al (2015) model the North Sea region as being potentially insensitive to rapid ice mass loss in Greenland, the study raises valid questions regarding the source of RSL oscillations during MIS5e.…”