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Late Holocene Sea-Level Change on Rota and Guam, Mariana Islands, and Its Constraint on Geophysical Predictions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Hajime Kayanne ,
Teruaki Ishii ,
Eiji Matsumoto  and
Nobuyuki Yonekura
Hajime Kayanne
Affiliation:
Marine Geology Department, Geological Survey of Japan, Tsukuba 305, Japan
Teruaki Ishii
Affiliation:
Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Nakano, Tokyo 164, Japan
Eiji Matsumoto
Affiliation:
Institute for Hydrospheric-Atmospheric Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-01, Japan
Nobuyuki Yonekura
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Tokyo 113, Japan
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Abstract

Holocene emergent reefs and notches are well distributed on Rota and Guam. Relative sea-level changes at these islands are reconstructed based on geomorphological observations and borings on present and emergent reefs, together with 54 radiocarbon dates. Sea level rose gradually to a maximum of 1.8 m between 6000 and 4200 yr B.P. and reached its highest level by 4200 yr B.P. on both islands. After 3200 yr B.P. abrupt uplift caused emergence of the reef. By subtracting the tectonic effect, we obtained the sea-level change in the Marianas: sea level reached its present level by 4200 yr B.P. and has remained almost stable since then. Reconstructed late Holocene sea-level change in the Mariana Islands provides constraints on geophysical models of sea-level variations.

Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 40 , Issue 2 , September 1993 , pp. 189 - 200
Copyright
University of Washington

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