Age accuracy and resolution of Quaternary corals used as proxies for sea level

Edinger, E. N., Burr, G. S., Pandolfi, J. M. and Ortiz, J. C. (2007) Age accuracy and resolution of Quaternary corals used as proxies for sea level. Earth And Planetary Science Letters, 253 1-2: 37-49.


Author Edinger, E. N.
Burr, G. S.
Pandolfi, J. M.
Ortiz, J. C.
Title Age accuracy and resolution of Quaternary corals used as proxies for sea level
Journal name Earth And Planetary Science Letters  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A*)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2007-01-15
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1016/j.epsl.2006.10.014
Volume number 253
Issue number 1-2
ISSN 0012-821X
Start page 37
End page 49
Total pages 13
Editor H. Elderfield
Place of publication Amsterdam
Publisher Elsevier Science Bv
Collection year 2008
Language eng
Subject 260200 Geophysics
260300 Geochemistry
C1
770300 Marine Environment
Abstract The accuracy of global eustatic sea level curves measured from raised Quaternary reefs, using radiometric ages of corals at known heights, may be limited by time-averaging, which affects the variation in coral age at a given height. Time-averaging was assessed in uplifted Holocene reef sequences from the Huon Peninsula, Papua New Guinea, using radiocarbon dating of coral skeletons in both horizontal transects and vertical sequences. Calibrated 2 sigma age ranges varied from 800 to 1060 years along horizontal transects, but weighted mean ages calculated from 15-18 dates per horizon were accurate to a resolution within 154-214 yr. Approximately 40% of the variability in age estimate resulted from internal variability inherent to C-14 estimates, and 60% was due to time-averaging. The accuracy of age estimates of sea level change in studies using single dated corals as proxies for sea level is probably within 1000 yr of actual age, but can be resolved to <= 250 yr if supported by dates from analysis of a statistical population of corals at each stratigraphic interval. The range of time-averaging among reef corals was much less than that for shelly benthos. Ecological time-averaging dominated over sedimentological time averaging for reef corals, opposite to patterns reported from shelly benthos in siliciclastic environments. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keyword Geochemistry & Geophysics
Sea Level
Coral Reef
Time Averaging
Radiocarbon
Quaternary
Papua New Guinea
Radiometric Dating
Accuracy
Resolution
Papua-new-guinea
Cal Kyr Bp
Huon-peninsula
Community Structure
Fossil Assemblages
Death Assemblages
Coseismic Uplift
Houtman-abrolhos
Late Holocene
Reefs
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code

 
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Created: Mon, 18 Feb 2008, 16:18:05 EST