Sea-level records at ~80 ka from tectonically stable platforms: Florida and Bermuda
Studies from tectonically active coasts on New Guinea and Barbados have suggested that sea level at ∼ 80 ka was significantly lower than present, whereas data from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America indicate an ∼ 80 ka sea level close to that of the present. We determined ages of corals from a shallow submerged reef off the Florida Keys and an emergent marine deposit on Bermuda. Both localities are on tectonically stable platforms distant from plate boundaries. Uranium-series ages show that corals at both localities grew during the ∼80 ka sea-level highstand, and geologic data show that sea level at that time was no lower than 7–9 m below present (Florida) and may have been 1–2 m above present (Bermuda). The ice-volume discrepancy of the 80 ka sea-level estimates is greater than the volume of the Greenland or West Antarctic ice sheets. Comparison of our ages with high-latitude insolation values indicates that the sea-level stand near the present at ∼80 ka could have been orbitally forced.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 1996 |
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Title | Sea-level records at ~80 ka from tectonically stable platforms: Florida and Bermuda |
DOI | 10.1130/0091-7613(1996)024<0211:SLRAKF>2.3.CO;2 |
Authors | K. R. Ludwig, D.R. Muhs, K. R. Simmons, R. B. Halley, E.A. Shinn |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Geology |
Index ID | 70018463 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |