Tectonic constraints on the late Pleistocene-Holocene relative sea-level change along the north-eastern Adriatic coast (Croatia)

In spite of very favourable coastal features, late Pleistocene-Holocene relative sea-level changes along the eastern Adriatic coast are still not completely resolved mostly due to the intensive and complicated regional and local neotectonics. We gathered current knowledge that generally presents the...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geomorphology (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Netherlands), 2014-09, Vol.220, p.93-103
Main Authors: Surić, Maša, Korbar, Tvrtko, Juračić, Mladen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coastal
Coastal environments
Croatia
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Formations
Geomorphology
Geomorphology, landform evolution
Marine and continental quaternary
North-eastern Adriatic
Notches
Reconstruction
Relative sea-level change
Sea level
Surficial geology
Tectonics
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In spite of very favourable coastal features, late Pleistocene-Holocene relative sea-level changes along the eastern Adriatic coast are still not completely resolved mostly due to the intensive and complicated regional and local neotectonics. We gathered current knowledge that generally presents the north Adriatic area as subsiding one, and proposed a reconstruction in new light of possible very slow (local) uplift (average rate of 0.1–0.25mm/a for last 80ka) which is supported by well-dated submerged speleothems and tectonic reconstruction. In addition, such a scenario supports also the formation of tidal notches that are common in the north Adriatic region, but not yet entirely understood. However, according to the latest Mediterranean data on sea level during the marine isotope stage (MIS) 5.1 being at +1m 80ka ago, we do not dismiss the possibility of subsidence which would have been 0.18–0.23mm/a on average for the last 80ka, but notch formation under such condition would not have been realistic. Apparently, the position of the north-eastern Adriatic coast on a convergence area requires extensive palaeoenvironmental studies, including structural, lithostratigraphical, palaeontological, archaeological and radiometric data and application of isostatic modelling. •Eastern Adriatic coast hosts excellent sea-level indicators but also very complex tectonics.•We revised former evidence of relative sea level change in light of possible regional/local uplift.•The regional tectonic setting generally supports periods of local uplift.•Tidal notch formation also required occasional uplift episodes.
ISSN:0169-555X
1872-695X
DOI:10.1016/j.geomorph.2014.06.001