Yq. Zong et Mj. Tooley, HOLOCENE SEA-LEVEL CHANGES AND CRUSTAL MOVEMENTS IN MORECAMBE-BAY, NORTHWEST ENGLAND, JQS. Journal of quaternary science, 11(1), 1996, pp. 43-58
Holocene stratigraphy from Skelwith Pool, on the northern side of More
cambe Bay, is described. Diatom and pollen analyses and radiocarbon da
ting have been undertaken for three sampling sites, from which eight s
ea-level index points have been obtained. These index points come from
a small homogeneous area and similar palaeoenvironments. Some publish
ed sea-level index points from Morecambe Bay have been re-evaluated an
d validated by means of diatom analysis. An enhanced sea-level databas
e with 28 index points has been used for the reconstruction of Holocen
e sea-level history. Relative sea-level rose rapidly around 6870-6510
sc at a maximum rate of +36.7 mm yr(-1). Subsequently, the rate of sea
-level change has varied between -8 mm yr(-1) and +12 mm yr(-1). The r
ate of relative sea-level changes for the last 3500 years is not clear
. Uplift driven by deglaciation is believed to have been interrupted i
n the early Holocene by a rapid rise in relative sea-level. Uplift res
tarted at 6510 BC but soon declined as glacio-isostatic recovery ended
around 3800 BC in the Morecambe Bay area. Since then, crustal movemen
ts in the Morecambe Bay area have been minimal. Factors affecting the
attitudes of the index points such as sediment compaction of the basal
peat and variations in palaeotidal range during the Holocene have bee
n considered.