FORAMINIFERAL TRANSFER FUNCTION FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION SEA-LEVEL RECONSTRUCTION DURING HOLOCENE IN SUNDA SHELF, OFF MALAYSIA WATERS

The accelerating global sea-level rise is predicted to have significant impact on the world’s coastal zone and geomorphology. Since the timing and magnitude of sea-level rise is far from uniform, local sea-level predictions are important to help validate or improve sea level models. Paleo sea level records with appropriate bio-geo indicator proxy indicators could help us to develop better mitigation strategies against current or future sea-level rise scenarios. Recent studies in Sulawesi have indicated that the mid-Holocene sea level was much lower than previously suggested. However, such study is scarce in Malaysian waters but very much needed to estimate the Holocene sea-level changes in this region. The quantification of benthic foraminifera has provided several useful models that can be used to reconstruct high- resolution sea level changes during Holocene in salt-marshes area. In this study, the foraminifera based transfer function was used to reconstruct high-resolution sea level curve in Sunda Shelf during Holocene. The WA-PLS results indicated a good foraminifera based transfer function from South China Sea (R²= 0.976) with root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP) ± 2.4 m. The transfer function model was applied to sediment core sample to produce the sea level curve in the region. The sea level data from Sunda Shelf, Malaysian waters confirm the sea level high-stands occurred between ~7900 cal BP and ~5300 cal BP. Both high-stands however, never exceeded or reached 5 m above current level as proposed before. Instead when compared to glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) models, the paleo sea level curve in Malaysian waters falls between ICE 6g and ANICE models. The sea paleo sea-level data from this study allowed better understanding of sea-level changes on Sunda shelf and east coast of Peninsular Malaysia waters.