Further evidence for a relatively high sea level during the penultimate interglacial: Open-system U-series ages from La Marina (Alicante, East Spain)

The elevation and timing of high sea stands during Oxygen Isotope Stage (OIS) 7 are not as well constrained as those of OIS 5e. Conflicting values are reported from Mediterranean coastlines, and fossil dating is inaccurate because of ubiquitous open U-series systems. New morphostratigraphic data from La Marina (eastern Spain) supported by open-system U-series coral ages shed light on the maximum sea level during OIS 7. Fossil corals (Cladocora caespitosa) underlying an OIS 5e marine unit yielded U-series ages from 178 ± 10 to 208 ± 11 ka (±2σ; n=7) with an outlier at 240 ± 18 ka. Mean open-system limit ages of 170 ± 10 (minimum age after correction for 234Th-230Th uptake) and 237 ± 20 ka (maximum age after correction for 238U - 234U uptake) were calculated to have a probable age closer to the minimum value, for an assignment of OIS 7a or 7c. The occurrence of a warm-water "Senegalese" fauna (Strombus bubonius) in OIS5e and O1S 7 marine units confirms the arrival of tropical species to the Mediterranean before the last interglacial period. Morpho-sedimentological and neotectonic studies suggest that the maximum paleo-sea level during OIS 7c or 7a was a few meters below that of OIS 5e.

Coastal and Marine Processes. CHM acknowledges financial support from the Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the UNESCO Chair for Global Change Study of Université du Québec à Montréal.