Holocene relative mean sea‐level changes in the Wadden Sea area, northern Netherlands

Meijles, Erik; Kiden, Patrick; Streurman, Harm Jan; Plicht, Johannes van der; Vos, P.C.; Gehrels, W. Roland; Kopp, Robert

doi:10.1002/jqs.3068

Cited by 39 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Behre & Streif, 1980;Behre, 2007) and shows rather coarse vertical resolution. Several authors have expressed the need for more precise quantitative data (Vink et al, 2007;Bungenstock & Schäfer, 2009;Bungenstock & Weerts, 2010Baeteman et al, 2011;Meijles et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vertical and lateral distribution of Foraminifera and Ostracoda in the East Frisian Wadden Sea – developing a transfer function for relative sea-level change

Scheder¹,

Frenzel²,

Bungenstock³

et al. 2019

Geol. Belg.

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In light of rising sea levels and increased storm surge hazards, detailed information on relative sea-level (RSL) histories and local controlling mechanisms is required to support future projections and to better prepare for future coastal-protection challenges. This study contributes to deciphering Holocene RSL changes at the German North Sea coast in high resolution by developing a transfer function for RSL change. Recent associations of Foraminifera and Ostracoda from low intertidal to supratidal settings of the barrier island of Spiekeroog in combination with environmental parameters (granulometry, C/N, TOC, salinity) were investigated and quantified in elevation steps of 15 cm in order to generate a first transfer function (TF) of Holocene RSL change. In a future step, the TF can be applied to the stratigraphic record. Our data show a clear vertical zonation of foraminifer and ostracod taxa between the middle salt marsh and the tidal flat with very few individuals in the sand flat area, suggesting removal by the tidal current or poor preservation. Multivariate statistics identify the elevation, i.e. the inundation frequency, as main driving factor. The smallest vertical error (49 cm) is associated with an entirely new approach of combining Foraminifera and Ostracoda for a TF. Advantages of the TF over classical RSL indicators such as basal and intercalated peat – beside the relatively narrow indicative meaning – include the possible application to a wide range of intertidal facies and that it does not depend on compaction-prone peat.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vertical and lateral distribution of Foraminifera and Ostracoda in the East Frisian Wadden Sea – developing a transfer function for relative sea-level change

Scheder¹,

Frenzel²,

Bungenstock³

et al. 2019

Geol. Belg.

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“…A variation in TR of several decimetres negative (due to the flood-basin effect of the nearby Zuiderzee west of Westergo) or positive (convergence effect of the funnel-shaped basin) has to be taken into account. A variation in TR of several decimetres is quite significant for the RSLR of the last 3000 years, which was between 0.05 and 0.20 m per century (Meijles et al, 2018). Based on our data in the Westergo area ( Fig.…”

Section: Palaeo-mhw Conversion To Palaeo-mslmentioning

confidence: 59%

“…These values are estimated and based on the current tidal range for the western Wadden Sea, as argued above. If we compare our palaeo-MHW curve of Westergo with the MSL curve of the northern Netherlands for the period 1200 BC-AD 100 as presented by Meijles et al (2018;Fig. 6), it is striking that the older part of the MSL curve of Meijles et al (2018) is positioned on or above the MHW curve of Westergo, while it should be c.0.9 m below the Westergo curve.…”

Section: Palaeo-mhw Conversion To Palaeo-mslmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…This reference water level (RWL) is considered as a SLI in the case that the beginning of peat growth on the Pleistocene surface was controlled by sea-level rise and not by local groundwater effects (Van de Plassche, 1980, 1982Kiden et al, 2002;Behre, 2003Behre, , 2007Baeteman et al, 2011;Vis et al, 2015). One of the basic assumptions underpinning relative basal-peat sea-level studies is that in the humid climate of NW Europe in the Holocene, freshwater-peat growth in the coastal plain takes place at or abovebut never lower than -Mean Sea Level (MSL) at that location (Meijles et al, 2018). It is generally accepted that basal peat starts forming at local MSL or, when there is tidal influence, at Mean High Water (MHW) level (Hijma & Cohen, 2019).…”

Section: Basal Peat Sea-level Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since Jelgersma's basal-peat RSLR curve was published, constant improvements and new data points have resulted in many new curves by e.g. Jelgersma herself (1966), Van de Plassche (1982), Kiden et al (2002Kiden et al ( , 2008, Vink et al (2007), Hijma & Cohen (2010 and Meijles et al (2018).…”

Section: Basal Peat Sea-level Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Late-Holocene sea-level reconstruction (1200 BC–AD 100) in the Westergo terp region of the northern Netherlands

Vos¹,

Nieuwhof

2021

Netherlands Journal of Geosciences

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In the early 20th century, archaeological research in the terp (artificial dwelling-mound) region of the northern Netherlands focused, besides settlement history, on natural salt-marsh dynamics and sea-level rise. In particular Van Giffen used salt-marsh deposits under dated terp layers to reconstruct the rate of sedimentation of the developing salt marsh and relative sea-level rise. This line of research in archaeology was rekindled during excavations in the terp of Wijnaldum-Tjitsma between 1991 and 1993. Since then, geology has become an integral part of archaeological research in the terp region. This paper focuses on the northwestern part of the province of Friesland (Westergo), where most archaeological terp research during the past three decades has been carried out, owing to several research programmes by the Province of Friesland. The primary aim of the geoarchaeological research is to better understand the interaction between human inhabitants and the salt-marsh landscape. The sedimentary record exposed in the excavation trenches makes it possible to collect data on the development of the coastal environments of the Wadden Sea prior to habitation, including data on sea-level rise. The sea-level data collected in the geoarchaeological studies in Westergo are the topic of this paper. The measured levels of the tidal-flat/salt-marsh boundary underneath the terps make it possible to reconstruct palaeo-Mean High Water (palaeo-MHW) levels. Such sea-level index points (SLIPs), based on marine shell data points from 12 locations, now make it possible to establish a palaeo-MHW diagram for this part of the Wadden Sea, for the period between 1200 BC and AD 100. In this period the palaeo-MHW in the Westergo region rose from c.1.8 m to 0.3 m −NAP: a mean sea-level rise of c.0.12 m per century. We discuss the fact that elevation of the palaeo-MHW SLIP is not only determined by relative sea level (RSL), but also by the magnitude of the tidal amplitude. The tidal range, and therefore the MHW elevations in a tidal basin, can change from place to place and also in time. Also in a single tidal basin the tidal range is variable, due to the distortion of the tidal wave as a result of the morphology of the tidal system. Such local tidal range fluctuations – not related to sea-level rise – influence the palaeo-MHW curve of Westergo and other tidal basins in the Wadden Sea and need to be taken into account when interpreting the curve. In this paper, we will go into the causes of changes in palaeotidal ranges in meso- and macrotidal systems, analyse the tidal range variations in recent and subrecent basins and estuaries and discuss the implications of these changes on the sea-level curve of the Westergo region in NW Friesland.

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Using legacy data to reconstruct the past? Rescue, rigour and reuse in peatland geochronology

Quik

Velde

Harkema

et al. 2021

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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There is a growing interest in the rescue and reuse of data from past studies (so-called legacy data). Data loss is alarming, especially where natural archives are under threat, such as peat deposits. Here we develop a workflow for reuse of legacy radiocarbon dates in peatland studies, including a rigorous quality assessment that can be tailored to specific research questions and study regions. A penalty is assigned to each date based on criteria that consider taphonomic quality (i.e., sample provenance) and dating quality (i.e., sample material and method used). The weights of quality criteria may be adjusted based on the research focus, and resulting confidence levels may be used in further analyses to ensure robustness of conclusions.We apply the proposed approach to a case study of a (former) peat landscape in the Netherlands, aiming to reconstruct the timing of peat initiation spatially. Our search yielded 313 radiocarbon dates from the 1950s to 2019. Based on the quality assessment, the dates-of highly diverse quality-were assigned to four confidence levels.Results indicate that peat initiation for the study area first peaked in the Late Glacial ($14,000 cal years BP), dropped during the Boreal ($9,500 cal years BP) and showed a second peak in the Subboreal ($4,500 cal years BP). We tentatively conclude that the earliest peak was mostly driven by climate (Bølling-Allerød interstadial), whereas the second was probably the result of Holocene sea level rise and related groundwater level rise in combination with climatic conditions (hypsithermal). Our study highlights the potential of legacy data for palaeogeographic reconstructions, as it is cost-efficient and provides access to information no longer available in the field.However, data retrieval may be challenging, and reuse of data requires that basic information on location, elevation, stratigraphy, sample and laboratory analysis are documented irrespective of the original research aims.

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Holocene relative mean sea‐level changes in the Wadden Sea area, northern Netherlands

Cited by 39 publications

References 67 publications

Vertical and lateral distribution of Foraminifera and Ostracoda in the East Frisian Wadden Sea – developing a transfer function for relative sea-level change

Vertical and lateral distribution of Foraminifera and Ostracoda in the East Frisian Wadden Sea – developing a transfer function for relative sea-level change

Late-Holocene sea-level reconstruction (1200 BC–AD 100) in the Westergo terp region of the northern Netherlands

Using legacy data to reconstruct the past? Rescue, rigour and reuse in peatland geochronology

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