Lateglacial to Holocene relative sea-level changes in the Stykkisholmur area, northern Sn ae fellsnes, Iceland

摘要

Comparatively little research has been undertaken on relative sea-level (RSL) change in western Iceland. This paper presents the results of diatom, tephrochronological and radiocarbon analyses on six isolation basins and two coastal lowland sediment cores from the Stykkisholmur area, northern Snaefellsnes, western Iceland. The analyses provide a reconstruction of Lateglacial to mid-Holocene RSL changes in the region. The marine limit is measured to 65-69m above sea level (asl), with formation being estimated at 13.5 cal ka BP. RSL fall initially occurred rapidly following marine limit formation, until ca. 12.6 cal ka BP, when the rate of RSL fall decreased. RSL fell below present in the Stykkisholmur area during the early Holocene (by ca. 10 cal ka BP). The rates of RSL change noted in the Stykkisholmur area demonstrate lesser ice thicknesses in Snaefellsnes than Vestfiroir during the Younger Dryas, when viewed in the regional context. Consequently, the data provide an insight into patterns of glacio-isostatic adjustment surrounding Breioafjorour, a hypothesized major ice stream at the Last Glacial Maximum. Copyright (C) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.