Reconstructions of Lower To Middle Miocene Sea Level on the New Jersey Margin Based on Independent Palynological and Benthic Foraminiferal Data from IODP EXP 313
Abstract
Sea level reconstructions rely on accurate assessment of two quasi-independent components: 1) transgression/ regression of the shoreline, and 2) variations in water depth at any given point on the margin. Palynomorphs, specifically the ratio of terrestrial: marine palynomorphs (T:M), allow distance-from-shoreline to be estimated, and benthic foraminiferal assemblages provide the basis for paleodepth estimates. Reconstructions of lower to middle Miocene sea level on the New Jersey margin are considered robust because there is generally close agreement between these independent proxies in the boreholes from IODP Expedition 313. The very different taphonomic signature of palynomorph assemblages at sequence boundaries (low palynomorph concentrations, very high T:M, few protoperidinioid cysts) and within maximum flooding surfaces, (high palynomorph concentrations, low T:M, many protoperidinioid cysts) together with the multiproxy-derived estimates of sea level, can be used to assess the importance of glacioeustasy in shaping the NJ margin.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010AGUFMPP11E1464M
- Keywords:
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- 1635 GLOBAL CHANGE / Oceans;
- 1641 GLOBAL CHANGE / Sea level change;
- 4944 PALEOCEANOGRAPHY / Micropaleontology;
- 4952 PALEOCEANOGRAPHY / Palynology