HYDROGRAPHIC CHANGES IN THE SOUTHERN KATTEGAT (SCANDINAVIA) DURING THE EARLY HOLOCENE TRANSGRESSION

Detailed sedimentological, micropalaeontological, mineralogical and ge ochemical investigations as well as C-14 datings were carried out on a core from the southern part of the Kattegat Sea. According to the mic ropalacontological interpretations, sea level rose by approximately 20 m in the period c. 9610 BP to 8200 BP. The core therefore provides ev idence of the hydrographical conditions in the southern Kattegat durin g the early Holocene transgression. In the sediment there is geochemic al evidence of strong stratification in the water column possibly rela ted to inflow of saline water around 9080 BP. After the sediments date d to 8200 BP there is a hiatus followed by very young ( < 300 BP?) sed iments. It is suggested that this hiatus might be associated with the opening of the Danish Straits.