PRODUCING A PALEO RECORD FOR PREDICTING FUTURE CHANGE: CONSIDERATIONS IN THE FIELD (Invited Presentation)

Global sea level is inherently linked to climate through the influence of the latter on ice sheet extent and thickness. As such, the physical remnants of Quaternary shorelines are key to understanding former fluctuations in global sea level and ice extent and for projecting the consequences of future climatic change. The Last Interglacial specifically serves as a process analogue for future warmth and higher sea levels.

The type and character of a coastline indicate the geomorphic processes and coastal climate at time of formation. Different types of coastlines require different methods of study to determine the indicative meaning of the sea-level record preserved. Furthermore, the physical record does not remain static through time and is subject to a number of processes (e.g. tectonics, glacial isostatic adjustment, dynamic topography, and erosion) operating on regionally variable scales of intensity. Therefore, producing an accurate record of relative paleo sea level requires not only a wide geographic scope, but also a different approach tailor-made for each region. These are all factors a field scientist must consider not only when choosing locations for study, but also when interpreting the data collected.

This talk will review some of the author’s field work experience on a variety of coastlines from Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and the Republic of Cabo Verde, the challenges they present, and how the record of each location contributes to predictions of future change.