Using Holocene relative sea-level data to inform future sea-level predictions: An example from southwest England

Holocene relative sea-level data contain information on vertical land movements along coasts and, hence, can provide vital input for predictions of future sea-level change. At Thurlestone, in southwest England, late Holocene coastal sediments were cored and sampled in coastal back-barrier marshes. The presence of a basal sedimentary unit containing salt-marsh microfossils made it possible to obtain precise estimates of late Holocene relative sea-level change from the sediments. This is important because previous studies have suggested that the southwest of England is experiencing the fastest rates of land subsidence in the British Isles. Ten new late Holocene basal sea-level index points fill an important gap in the palaeosea-level data set for southwest England. Another 15 early and middle Holocene sea-level index points are available from previous work. The data show that relative sea level rose by about 10 m between 9000 and 7000 cal. yr BP and a further 8 m in the last 7000 yr. In the last 2000 yr, relative sea level rose on average by 0.9 mm/yr. The coast is currently subsiding by 1.1 mm/yr due to ongoing glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA). The Bradley et al. (2009) GIA model, which is used in the United Kingdom to determine land-motion rates for input into future sea-level predictions, underestimates the rate of coastal subsidence by about 0.16 mm/yr, but performs better than other models. Our data validate the land-motion rates currently used in regional sea-level projections.

► Holocene sea-level data can be used to inform future sea-level scenarios.
► Relative sea level in southwest England rose ~ 18 m in the last 9000 yr.
► Relative sea level in southwest England rose ~ 1.8 m in the last 2000 yr.
► The coast of south Devon is currently subsiding at a rate of ~ 1.1 mm/yr.
► Data validate rates of vertical land motion used in regional sea-level projections.