Journal Article

Decoding the Interplay Between Tidal Notch Geometry and Sea‐Level Variability During the Last Interglacial (Marine Isotope Stage 5e) High Stand

Georgiou, N., Stocchi, P., Casella, E., Rovere, A.

2024

Overview

Relic coastal landforms (fossil corals, cemented intertidal deposits, or erosive features carved onto rock coasts) serve as sea‐level index points (SLIPs), that are widely used to reconstruct past sea‐level changes. Traditional SLIP‐based sea‐level reconstructions face challenges in capturing continuous sea‐level variability and dating erosional SLIPs, such as tidal notches. Here, we propose a novel approach to such challenges. We use a numerical model of cliff erosion embedded within a Monte Carlo simulation to investigate the most likely sea‐level scenarios responsible for shaping one of the best‐preserved tidal notches of Last Interglacial age in Sardinia, Italy. Results align with Glacial Isostatic Adjustment model predictions, indicating that synchronized or out‐of‐sync ice‐volume shifts in Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets can reproduce the notch morphology, with sea level confidently peaking at 6 m and only under a higher than present erosion regime. This new approach yields insight into sea‐level trends during the Last Interglacial. Plain Language Summary Scientists typically investigate the position of sea level in geological time using the elevation, age, and characteristics of fossil marine organisms living in shallow water (e.g., coral reefs), beach deposits, or erosional features that were formed near the sea level. However, these indicators offer only fragmented, if not only point‐like information in time and not a continuous sea‐level record. To overcome this issue, we use a numerical model that reconstructs the shape of tidal notches (i.e., indentations created close to sea level in carbonate cliffs). We compare model‐generated notch shapes with the real shape of the tidal notch, and we produce a set of continuous sea‐level histories that are more likely to have produced one of the best‐preserved fossil tidal notches in the Orosei Gulf, Sardinia, Italy, carved during the Last Interglacial highstand, 125.000 years ago. Our findings suggest that whether the ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland melted at the same time or separately, both scenarios could reproduce the actual shape of the tidal notch we observe at present. Our findings indicate that the erosion rate during that period was higher than present and the sea level is very likely to have reached up to 6 m. Key Points Cliff erosion modeling and Monte Carlo analysis indicate tidal notch geometry can offer a continuous record of past sea level variability The geometry of Orosei’s tidal notch, Italy can be replicated through simultaneous or asynchronous Antarctic–Greenland ice melting scenarios The morphology of the Last Interglacial notch is more efficiently replicated using higher‐than‐present erosion rates and a 6 m sea‐level peak

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,Wiley
• Subject: Carbonates / cliff erosion numerical model / Cliffs / Coastal landforms / Coral reefs / Corals / Erosion rates / Fossils / Geological time / geomorphology / Glaciation / Ice / Ice sheets / Interglacial periods / Isotopes / Landforms / Last Interglacial MIS 5e / Marine invertebrates / Marine organisms / Mathematical models / Monte Carlo / Monte Carlo simulation / Notches / Numerical models / Sea level / sea level change / Shallow water / Shape / tidal notch / Variability