Coseismic vs. climatic factors in the record of relative sea level changes: an example from the Last Interglacials in SE Spain

The morpho-sedimentary sequence presented in this paper provides evidence from three different highstands: two littoral sedimentary units separated by terrestrial deposits and affected by liquefaction (paleoseismic activity), and a younger paleo-cliff and its associated wave-cut platform carved into those sedimentary units. This wave-cut platform now tilted and folded, reaches heights ranging from 0 to +8 m, which has been interpreted as a consequence of cosesimic effect. The age of this wave-cut platform (Last Interglacial or Holocene) supports uplift rate estimations of from 0.016 to 0.15 mm/yr since the Last Interglacial/Holocene. Active deformation observed on Pleistocene-Holocene sea-level geomarkers can not only furnish useful information about seismic activity within the major structure of the Aguilas Arc, but also offer new insight into the Cope Basin's geodynamic model.