Late quaternary sea level changes of Gabes coastal plain and shelf: Identification of the MIS 5c and MIS 5a onshore highstands, southern Mediterranean

• Published in: Journal of Earth System Science Vol. 125; no. 1; pp. 13 - 28
• Main Authors: GZAM, MAHER, MEJDOUB, NOUREDDINE EL, JEDOUI, YOUNES
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Delhi Springer India 01-02-2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Beach ridges; Beaches; Cliffs; Coastal morphology; Coastal plains; Coasts; Continental shelves; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Geomorphology; Palaeo studies; Petrography; Petrology; Progradation; Quaternary; Radar; Radar data; Ridges; Sea level; Sea level changes; Sedimentary facies; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Tidal flats; Topography; Mediterranean Area; MED; MIS 5c and MIS 5a; beach ridges; palaeocoastal morphology; Tunisia; sea level changes; Gulf of Gabes
• ISSN: 0253-4126; 0973-774X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12040-015-0649-7

The continental shelf of the Gulf of Gabes is outlined, during the MIS 5c and MIS 5a onshore highstands, by the genesis of forced regressive beach ridges situated respectively at –19 m b.s.l/100 ka and –8 m b.s.l/80 ka. This area, considered as a stable domain since at least the last 130 ka (Bouaziz
et al.
2003
), is a particular zone for the reconstruction of the late quaternary sea-level changes in the region. Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data and field observations are highlighted to deduce interaction between hydrodynamic factors and antecedent topography. Variations in geomorphology were attributed to geological inheritance. Petrography and sedimentary facies of the submerged coastal ridges reveal that the palaeocoastal morphology was more agitated than today and the fluvial discharges are consistent. Actual morphologic trend deduced from different environment coasts (sandy coasts, sea cliffs and tidal flat) is marked by accumulation of marine sands and progradation.