A revised sea level history for the northern Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada. (15th July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fedje, Daryl; McLaren, Duncan; James, Thomas S.; Mackie, Quentin; Smith, Nicole F.; Southon, John R.; Mackie, Alexander P.
• Is Part Of: Quaternary science reviews. Volume 192(2018)
• Page Start: 300
• Page End: 316
• Publication Date: 2018-07-15
• Subjects: Geology, Stratigraphic -- Quaternary -- Periodicals; Stratigraphie -- Quaternaire -- Périodiques; 551.79
• DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.05.018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-3791

Abstract

Abstract: A refined relative sea level (RSL) history spanning the past 14, 300 calendar years is described for the Quadra Island area in the northern Strait of Georgia on the Pacific coast of Canada. Here marine shorelines dating to the time of earliest post-glacial emergence are at least 197 m above present-day sea-level at 14, 300 years ago. RSL fell rapidly, reaching two to three metres above present-day by 12, 000 years ago. A series of raised marine terraces at ca. 4, 10 and 30 m above present day high tide level suggest the rapid fall in RSL during early post-glacial time may have been briefly interrupted by factors such as regional ice advances and recessions and global meltwater pulses generated by climatic variations. A possible minor sea-level transgression of 1–2 m around 12, 000 to 11, 400 years ago was followed by slow regression to modern levels. This sea-level reconstruction is providing critical input for efficient discovery and cataloging of late Pleistocene and early Holocene archaeological sites on ancient raised shorelines in the region. Integration of the sea-level history with LiDAR imagery has proven successful in locating a number of archaeological sites on these ancient shorelines. Highlights: relative sea level history for the northern Strait of Georgia, west coast of Canada. early post-glacial shorelines stranded up to 200 m above modern sea level. RSL regression to 2 m above modern between 14, 300 and 12, 000 years ago. RSL record informs archaeological investigation into early post-glacial human history.