Late Quaternary Relative Sea-Level Change in the Western Gulf of Maine - Evidence for a Migrating Glacial Forebulge

TitleLate Quaternary Relative Sea-Level Change in the Western Gulf of Maine - Evidence for a Migrating Glacial Forebulge
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1995
AuthorsBarnhardt, WA, Gehrels, WR, Belknap, DF, Kelley, JT
JournalGeology
Volume23
Issue4
Pagination317-320
Date PublishedApr
ISSN0091-7613
Accession NumberWOS:A1995QR84700007
Abstract

New radiocarbon-dated cores obtained by Vibracorers in the western Gulf of Maine confirm that a short-lived, relative sea-level lowstand of similar to-55 m occurred at 11-10.5 ka. These cores and younger salt-marsh data also reveal that rates of transgression varied throughout the Holocene, probably due to local variations in glacial isostasy. The isostatic component is resolved by subtracting published approximations of eustatic sea level from our well-determined observations of local relative sea level. A large peek in the isostatic curve coincides with the lowstand and is interpreted as a forebulge 20-25 m in amplitude. Forebulge migration is estimated at 7-11 km/100 yr, based on the timing of lowstands across the region.

DOI10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0317:Lqrslc>2.3.Co;2