Holocene relative sea-level records from coral microatolls in Western Borneo, South China Sea

Journal article (2018)

Authors

Jȩdrzej M. Majewski Nanyang Technological University
S.L. Bradley Physical and Space Geodesy - CEG
Jeremy Pile Bournemouth University
Jani Tanzil Nanyang Technological University
Moritz Müller Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus
Aazani Mujahid Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
More Authors More Authors External organisation
Research Group
Physical and Space Geodesy (CEG) (TU Delft)
Relative sea level GIA models Borneo Borneo tectonics Coral microatolls Holocene highstand Sarawak Serabang fault
More Info
expand_more

Published Date

01-05-2018

Language

English

Reuse Rights

Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.

Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Geoscience and Remote Sensing

Research Group

Physical and Space Geodesy

Abstract

The spatial variability of Holocene relative sea level (RSL) in the South China Sea is unknown, with data restricted to Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, and a few other isolated sites. In this study, we present new continuous RSL records for Borneo using surveyed and U–Th dated coral microatolls from four sites in western Sarawak. The record spans 450 years of RSL from 7450 to 7000 yr BP. Our data suggest that RSL was higher than present and rapid RSL rise had ceased by 7450 yr BP. We compare these RSL reconstructions with a regional model of glacial-isostatic adjustment (GIA). The RSL reconstructions from three sites off the coast of Sarawak show a spatial gradient opposite to that predicted by the GIA model. This disagreement can best be explained by tectonic deformation since 7000 yr BP, which was previously unrecognized. We propose vertical land motion of 0.7–1.45 m due to slip on the Serabang fault, which runs between our four sites. This slip may have occurred in response to the loading of the Sunda Shelf by rising sea level.