The reef platform of Martinique: Interplay between eustasy, tectonic subsidence and volcanism since Late Pleistocene

Leclerc, Frédérique; Feuillet, Nathalie; Perret, M. F.; Cabioch, Guy; Bazin, Sara; Lebrun, Jean‐Frédéric

doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2015.08.001

Cited by 15 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…Similarly, the discrete approach assumes that coral reefs mainly grow during sea level stands. Again, this is at odds with observations that reveal that coral reefs grow at their fastest rates during transgressions (e.g., Blanchon et al, ; Cabioch, ; Dullo, ; Leclerc et al, ). Our analysis shows that departure from the discrete approach is in fact commonplace and provides the theoretical grounds to understand these observations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Genesis and Architecture of Sequences of Quaternary Coral Reef Terraces: Insights From Numerical Models

Pastier

Husson

Pedoja³

et al. 2019

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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The variety of coral reefs morphologies highlights their sensitivities to several forcings; fossil reefs stack in sequences that are accordingly diverse. In order to understand their genesis and architectures, we devised a numerical approach, accounting for Quaternary sea level oscillations, vertical land motion, initial slope, wave erosion, and reef growth. We first test our model on the subsiding sequence of Hawaii and on the uplifting sequence of Wangi‐Wangi (Sulawesi) that bears active barriers. We then construct a parametric study that we analyze based on a comprehensive yet compact description of sequences as barcodes, that depict the vertical distribution of a few geometrical characteristics (number, width, and height of the terraces and barriers). We find that geological factors suffice to explain the variety of architectures of reefal sequences at first order, regardless of additional ecosystemic processes. Vertical land motion and foundation slopes are the prime players, while reef growth rates only play a minor role. Barriers may develop both in uplift and subsidence mode, and their preservation attests for the erosional power. Last, we reappraise the genesis of sequences and find that sequences do not fingerprint discrete events of sea level oscillations but a continuous process harrowed by stochastic events: Major sea level fluctuations can be overrepresented by several terraces or conversely absent; reoccupations may yield composite terraces representing multiple events. Overall, sequences shall not be regarded as stacks of reef bodies forming during sea level highstands, which implies that the commonly assumed bijective relationship between sea level highstands and terraces shall be abandoned.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Genesis and Architecture of Sequences of Quaternary Coral Reef Terraces: Insights From Numerical Models

Pastier

Husson

Pedoja³

et al. 2019

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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“…The active volcano (Mount Pelée) dominates the morphology of the northern part of the island (Figure b). The island is surrounded by a reef complex of Quaternary age [ Leclerc et al , ] (Figure b). This shallow insular plateau, ranging in depth between 0 m and 70 m, is well developed on the east side of the island, up to 25 km wide.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This shallow insular plateau, ranging in depth between 0 m and 70 m, is well developed on the east side of the island, up to 25 km wide. On the west side, likely because of the activity of Mount Pelée, the insular plateau is narrow and disappears near the volcano [ Leclerc et al , ] (Figure b).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two hundred thirty years of relative sea level changes due to climate and megathrust tectonics recorded in coral microatolls of Martinique (French West Indies)

et al. 2016

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We sampled six coral microatolls that recorded the relative sea level changes over the last 230 years east of Martinique, on fringing reefs in protected bays. The microatolls are cup‐shaped, which is characteristic of corals that have been experiencing submergence. X‐ray analysis of coral slices and reconstructions of the highest level of survival (HLS) curves show that they have submerged at rates of a few millimeters per year. Their morphology reveals changes in submergence rate around 1829 ± 11, 1895, and 1950. Tide gauges available in the region indicate a regional sea level rise at a constant mean rate of 1.1 ± 0.8 mm/yr, which contrasts with our coral record, implying additional tectonic subsidence. Comparing our coral morphology with that of synthetic corals generated with Matlab by using the Key West tide gauge record (Florida), we show that their growth was controlled by tectonics and that a sudden relative sea level increase drowned them around 1950. Simple elastic models show that this sudden submergence probably occurred during the 21 May 1946 earthquake, which ruptured the plate interface in front of Martinique, in the mantle wedge, in an area of sustained seismic activity. The 1839 M8+ earthquake probably occurred in the same area. Long‐term subsidence of microatolls indicates that this deep portion of the megathrust is probably locked down to 60 km depth during the interseismic period. Our oldest coral recorded a long‐lasting period (50 years) of stable relative sea level after the 1839 earthquake, indicating that transient interseismic strain rate variations may occur in the Lesser Antilles.

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“…In the Mediterranean Sea, cascading acts either singularly or by reinforcing storm-related down-welling, and results in shelf water export (Ulses et al, 2008a(Ulses et al, , 2008b, particle/sediment re-suspension and off-shelf transport Guarracino et al, 2006;Heussner et al, 2006;Palanques et al, 2006Palanques et al, , 2008Palanques et al, , 2009Palanques et al, , 2012Trincardi et al, 2007;Turchetto et al, 2007;Bonnin et al, 2008;Ogston et al, 2008), organic matter supply Tesi et al, 2010), pollutant input (Sanchez-Vidal et al, 2015), sediment deposition (Gaudin et al, 2006;DeGeest et al, 2008), and seabottom shaping Lastras et al, 2007;Trincardi et al, 2007;Bourrin et al, 2008;Puig et al, 2008b;Foglini et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Map of the Adriatic showing the general trajectories of main water masses and location of living 'white corals' (modified fromFoglini et al, 2015).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

On and off the beaten track: Megafaunal sessile life and Adriatic cascading processes

et al. 2015

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The reef platform of Martinique: Interplay between eustasy, tectonic subsidence and volcanism since Late Pleistocene

Cited by 15 publications

References 72 publications

Genesis and Architecture of Sequences of Quaternary Coral Reef Terraces: Insights From Numerical Models

Genesis and Architecture of Sequences of Quaternary Coral Reef Terraces: Insights From Numerical Models

Two hundred thirty years of relative sea level changes due to climate and megathrust tectonics recorded in coral microatolls of Martinique (French West Indies)

On and off the beaten track: Megafaunal sessile life and Adriatic cascading processes

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