Revisiting late Holocene sea-level change from the Gilbert Islands, Kiribati, west-central Pacific Ocean. Issue 3 (18th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yamano, Hiroya; Kayanne, Hajime; Yamaguchi, Toru; Inoue, Tomomi; Mochida, Yukira; Baba, Shigeyuki
• Is Part Of: Quaternary research. Volume 88:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 400
• Page End: 408
• Publication Date: 2017-09-18
• Subjects: Late Holocene, -- Sea level, -- West-central Pacific, -- Coral reef, -- Reef island, -- Kiribati; Geology, Stratigraphic -- Quaternary -- Periodicals; Glacial epoch -- Periodicals; Stratigraphie -- Quaternaire -- Périodiques; Époque glaciaire -- Périodiques; Geology, Stratigraphic; Glacial epoch; Quaternary Geologic Period; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 551.79
• DOI: 10.1017/qua.2017.61
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-5894

Abstract

Abstract: New coral microatoll data allow presenting an updated late Holocene sea-level curve for the Gilbert Islands of Kiribati. Examination of build-up elevation and spatial distribution of microatolls, along with radiocarbon age data from coral samples, suggest an approximately 1 m sea-level high stand, possibly lasting from ~3500 to 1900 cal yr BP. Our sea-level curve, which is similar to the one reported from the Marshall Islands, is a baseline to reconstruct the evolution of reef flats and reef islands. In addition, it provides important contextual data to infer human settlement on islands in the west-central Pacific.