Elsevier

CATENA

Volume 11, Issues 2–3, August 1984, Pages 187-195
CATENA

Evidence for late Quaternary sea level change around St. Helena island, south Atlantic

https://doi.org/10.1016/0341-8162(84)90008-0Get rights and content

Abstract

The evidence presented by DALY (1927) for a 3m raised shoreline along only the northwest coast of St. Helena and its implied absence elsewhere on the island is reappraised in the light of recent fieldwork. Low benches and abandoned caves have been found preserved on all coasts and are at a greater variety of elevations than supposed previously. The morphology of the benches and processes presently affecting them are described, and three types of raised beach identified. It is argued that the low level features represent three periods of marine erosion to 7.0–9.0 m, 3.0–4.5 m and 1.5–2.0 m, each attributable to a sea level relatively higher than the present one.

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