Mid-Holocene water-level changes in the lower Rhine-Meuse delta (western Netherlands): implications for the reconstruction of relative mean sea-level rise, palaeoriver-gradients and coastal evolution

Abstract

Link to publication in University of Groningen/UMCG research database Citation for published version (APA): van de Plassche, O., Makaske, B., Hoek, W. Z., Konert, M., & van der Plicht, J. (2010). Mid-Holocene water-level changes in the lower Rhine-Meuse delta (western Netherlands): implications for the reconstruction of relative mean sea-level rise, palaeoriver-gradients and coastal evolution. Netherlands journal of geosciences-Geologie en mijnbouw, 89(1), 3-20. CopyrightOther than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons).Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim.Downloaded from the University of Groningen/UMCG research database (Pure): http://www.rug.nl/research/portal. For technical reasons the number of authors shown on this cover page is limited to 10 maximum. Download date: 11-04-2019 IntroductionThe extensive occurrence, in the lower Rhine-Meuse delta, of Late Glacial aeolian dunes that are largely or completely covered by Holocene fresh-and brackish-water (tidal) deposits has played, and continues to play, a significant role in the study of changes in relative sea level, intra-coastal tidal range, river gradient, palaeoecological and palaeodepositional environments, human occupation, and differential land-level movements (Jelgersma, 1961;Louwe Kooijmans, 1974;Van der Woude, 1983;Van de Plassche, 1980a, 1982, 1984, 1995a, 1995bVan Dijk et al., 1991;Törnqvist et al., 1998;Cohen, 2003Cohen, , 2005Berendsen et al., 2007). Moderate to steeply sloping flanks of peat-covered aeolian dunes offer the possibility of obtaining suites of local waterlevel index points that are virtually free of compaction effects. Furthermore, the relatively small size of the dunes and dune AbstractWe present a revised relative mean sea-level (MSL) curve for the Rhine-Meuse delta, western Netherlands, for the period 7900-5300 cal yr BP. The revision is based on a series of new and previously unpublished local groundwater-level index data from buried Late Glacial aeolian dunes in the lower Rhine-Meuse delta, and reinterpretation of existing data.The new index data consist of (AMS and conventional) radiocarbon dates of samples, collected from the base of peat formed on dune slopes, near Vlaardingen (21 index points), Hillegersberg (one index point), and Hardinxveld-Giessendam (10 index points). The Vlaardingen data represent the coast-nearest Rhine-Meuse delta local water-level record, which therefore is highly indicative for sea-level change. Pollen and macrofossil analysis, and dating of paired samples was carried out to assess the reliability of the groundwater-level index data.The revision of the MSL curve involves: (1) a significant (0 to >1 m) upward adjustment for the period 7900-7300 cal ...

Comment on: Mid-Holocene water-level changes in the lower Rhine-Meuse delta (western Netherlands): implications for the reconstruction of relative mean sea-level rise, palaeoriver-gradients and coastal evolution by Van de Plassche et al. (2010)

“…Vlaardingen, Bolnes, Barendrecht) allowed site-to-site comparison and quantification of the 'floodbasin effect' and the 'river-gradient effect' to find out at which downstream site, at which time, the peat index points most closely resemble MSL. This is the body of the Van de Plassche et al 2010 paper and a great achievement of Van de Plassche and co-workers in the 1980ies and 1990ies.…”

“…The difference is largest around ~7900 cal yr BP (sample H23, Hillegersberg site) where Van de Plassche et al (2010) prefer a ~50 cm lower mean sea-level position. The mismatch originates from differences in perception and calculation of the magnitude of the 'river gradient' and the 'tidal amplitude' at the time, leading to a different indicative range attributed to the sea-level index points.…”

“…Van der Molen & De Swart, 2001), 2) the transgressive palaeogeography of the estuary that linked water levels at sites such as Hillegersberg to the open sea in the period of interest (Hijma, 2009;Hijma et al, 2009;Hijma & Cohen, 2011) and 3) the 3D distribution of peat radiocarbon dates and sedimentological criteria to recognize river gradient in space and exclude river-gradient affected index-points when reconstructing sea-level rise in time (Cohen, 2003;2005;Hijma & Cohen, 2010). Van de Plassche et al (2010) approach this backward in time and from upstream to downstream. Most of their index points come from the period after 7500 cal yr when the study area became part of a barrier-protected lagoonal swamp area that could form because the rate of sea-level rise decreased and the Rhine had avulsed away from the area (Hijma & Cohen, 2011).…”

“…In a paper of which parts, especially the discussion section, were written after his death, new data and a revision of an existing sea-level curve are presented for the Rotterdam area (Van de Plassche et al, 2010). This comment concerns two topics addressed in the discussion section: 1) connection of their revised Rotterdam relative sea-level curve for the period 7900-5300 cal yr BP (MSL-R2; Jelgersma, 1961;Van de Plassche, 1982;Berendsen et al, 2007;Van de Plassche et al, 2010) to the sea-level curve for the same area for the period 9000-7500 cal yr BP (MSL-R1; Hijma & Cohen, 2010); 2) The role of the river gradient on the calculation of the magnitude of a sea-level jump that occurred between 8450-8250 cal yr BP (Hijma & Cohen, 2010).…”

The interactions between Quaternary Geology and Archaeology

“…In their contribution on Mid-Holocene water-level changes in the lower Rhine-Meuse delta Van de Plassche et al (2010) give new information on the drowning of the Netherlands as a result of sea-level rise. This natural disaster is documented in the archeological record by the changes on particularly the riverdunes or 'donken' in the western Netherlands that acted as dry islands in a wet environment where prehistoric people were forced to adapt to water level rise.…”