Holocene relative sea-level records from coral microatolls in Western Borneo, South China Sea

Jędrzej M Majewski; Adam D Switzer; Aron J Meltzner; Peter R Parham; Benjamin P Horton; Sarah L Bradley; Jeremy Pile; Hong-Wei Chiang; Xianfeng Wang; Chiew Tyiin Ng; Jani Tanzil; Moritz Müller; Aazani Mujahid

doi:10.1177/0959683618777061

Holocene relative sea-level records from coral microatolls in Western Borneo, South China Sea

Jędrzej M Majewski
, Adam D Switzer^*
, Aron J Meltzner
, Peter R Parham
, Benjamin P Horton
, Sarah L Bradley
, Jeremy Pile
, Hong-Wei Chiang
, Xianfeng Wang
, Chiew Tyiin Ng
, Jani Tanzil
, Moritz Müller
, Aazani Mujahid

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The spatial variability of Holocene relative sea level (RSL) in the South China Sea is unknown, with data restricted to Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, and a few other isolated sites. In this study, we present new continuous RSL records for Borneo using surveyed and U–Th dated coral microatolls from four sites in western Sarawak. The record spans 450 years of RSL from 7450 to 7000 yr BP. Our data suggest that RSL was higher than present and rapid RSL rise had ceased by 7450 yr BP. We compare these RSL reconstructions with a regional model of glacial-isostatic adjustment (GIA). The RSL reconstructions from three sites off the coast of Sarawak show a spatial gradient opposite to that predicted by the GIA model. This disagreement can best be explained by tectonic deformation since 7000 yr BP, which was previously unrecognized. We propose vertical land motion of 0.7–1.45 m due to slip on the Serabang fault, which runs between our four sites. This slip may have occurred in response to the loading of the Sunda Shelf by rising sea level. © The Author(s) 2018.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1431-1442
Journal	Holocene
Volume	28
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683618777061
Publication status	Published - 1 Sept 2018
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

Funding

This research was supported by the National Research Foundation Singapore under its Singapore NRF Fellowship scheme (Awards NRF-RF2010-04 to ADS), the Singapore Ministry of Education under the Research Centres of Excellence initiative, and by Academic Research Fund (AcRF) Complexity Tier 1 Project RGC4/14. This work comprises Earth Observatory of Singapore contribution no. 153. SLB acknowledges support from the Netherlands Earth System Science Centre (NESSC), which is financially supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW).

Research Keywords

Borneo
Borneo tectonics
coral microatolls
GIA models
Holocene highstand
relative sea level
Sarawak
Serabang fault

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This full text is made available under CC-BY-NC 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

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title = "Holocene relative sea-level records from coral microatolls in Western Borneo, South China Sea",

abstract = "The spatial variability of Holocene relative sea level (RSL) in the South China Sea is unknown, with data restricted to Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, and a few other isolated sites. In this study, we present new continuous RSL records for Borneo using surveyed and U–Th dated coral microatolls from four sites in western Sarawak. The record spans 450 years of RSL from 7450 to 7000 yr BP. Our data suggest that RSL was higher than present and rapid RSL rise had ceased by 7450 yr BP. We compare these RSL reconstructions with a regional model of glacial-isostatic adjustment (GIA). The RSL reconstructions from three sites off the coast of Sarawak show a spatial gradient opposite to that predicted by the GIA model. This disagreement can best be explained by tectonic deformation since 7000 yr BP, which was previously unrecognized. We propose vertical land motion of 0.7–1.45 m due to slip on the Serabang fault, which runs between our four sites. This slip may have occurred in response to the loading of the Sunda Shelf by rising sea level. {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2018.",

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AU - Majewski, Jędrzej M

AU - Switzer, Adam D

AU - Meltzner, Aron J

AU - Parham, Peter R

AU - Horton, Benjamin P

AU - Bradley, Sarah L

AU - Pile, Jeremy

AU - Chiang, Hong-Wei

AU - Wang, Xianfeng

AU - Ng, Chiew Tyiin

AU - Tanzil, Jani

AU - Müller, Moritz

AU - Mujahid, Aazani

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N2 - The spatial variability of Holocene relative sea level (RSL) in the South China Sea is unknown, with data restricted to Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, and a few other isolated sites. In this study, we present new continuous RSL records for Borneo using surveyed and U–Th dated coral microatolls from four sites in western Sarawak. The record spans 450 years of RSL from 7450 to 7000 yr BP. Our data suggest that RSL was higher than present and rapid RSL rise had ceased by 7450 yr BP. We compare these RSL reconstructions with a regional model of glacial-isostatic adjustment (GIA). The RSL reconstructions from three sites off the coast of Sarawak show a spatial gradient opposite to that predicted by the GIA model. This disagreement can best be explained by tectonic deformation since 7000 yr BP, which was previously unrecognized. We propose vertical land motion of 0.7–1.45 m due to slip on the Serabang fault, which runs between our four sites. This slip may have occurred in response to the loading of the Sunda Shelf by rising sea level. © The Author(s) 2018.

AB - The spatial variability of Holocene relative sea level (RSL) in the South China Sea is unknown, with data restricted to Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, and a few other isolated sites. In this study, we present new continuous RSL records for Borneo using surveyed and U–Th dated coral microatolls from four sites in western Sarawak. The record spans 450 years of RSL from 7450 to 7000 yr BP. Our data suggest that RSL was higher than present and rapid RSL rise had ceased by 7450 yr BP. We compare these RSL reconstructions with a regional model of glacial-isostatic adjustment (GIA). The RSL reconstructions from three sites off the coast of Sarawak show a spatial gradient opposite to that predicted by the GIA model. This disagreement can best be explained by tectonic deformation since 7000 yr BP, which was previously unrecognized. We propose vertical land motion of 0.7–1.45 m due to slip on the Serabang fault, which runs between our four sites. This slip may have occurred in response to the loading of the Sunda Shelf by rising sea level. © The Author(s) 2018.

KW - Borneo

KW - Borneo tectonics

KW - coral microatolls

KW - GIA models

KW - Holocene highstand

KW - relative sea level

KW - Sarawak

KW - Serabang fault

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DO - 10.1177/0959683618777061

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 0959-6836

VL - 28

SP - 1431

EP - 1442

JO - Holocene

JF - Holocene

IS - 9

ER -

Holocene relative sea-level records from coral microatolls in Western Borneo, South China Sea

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

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