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The seasonality of hydroclimate during past periods of warmer than modern global temperatures is a critical component for understanding future climate change scenarios. Although partially analogous to these scenarios, the last interglacial (LIG, Marine Isotope Stage 5e, ~127-117 ka) is a popular test-bed. We present coral δ18O monthly resolved records from multiple Bonaire (southern Caribbean) fossil corals (Diploria strigosa) that date to between 130 and 118 ka. These records represent up to 37 years and cover a total of 105 years, offering insights into the seasonality and characteristics of LIG tropical Atlantic hydroclimate. Our coral δ18O records and available coral Sr/Ca- sea surface temperature (SST) records reveal new insights into the variable relationship between the seasonality of tropical Atlantic seawater δ18O (δ18Oseawater) and SST. Coral δ18O seasonality is found to co-vary with SST and insolation seasonality throughout the LIG, culminating in significantly higher than modern values at 124 and 126 ka. At 124 ka, we reconstruct a two month lead of the coral δ18O vs. the Sr/Ca-SST annual cycle and increased δ18Oseawater seasonality. A fully-coupled climate model simulates a concomitant increase of southern Caribbean Sea summer precipitation and depletion of summer δ18Oseawater. LIG regional hydroclimate differed from today's semiarid climate with a minor rainy season during winter. Cumulatively our coral δ18O, δ18Oseawater and model findings indicate a mid-LIG northward expansion of the South American Intertropical Convergence Zone into the southern Caribbean Sea, highlighting the importance of regional aspects within model and proxy reconstructions of LIG hydroclimate seasonality.
William M. Brocas; Thomas Felis; Paul Gierz; Gerrit Lohmann; Martin Werner; J. Christina Obert; Denis Scholz; Martin Kölling; Sander R. Scheffers. Last Interglacial Hydroclimate Seasonality Reconstructed From Tropical Atlantic Corals. Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology 2018, 33, 198 -213.
AMA StyleWilliam M. Brocas, Thomas Felis, Paul Gierz, Gerrit Lohmann, Martin Werner, J. Christina Obert, Denis Scholz, Martin Kölling, Sander R. Scheffers. Last Interglacial Hydroclimate Seasonality Reconstructed From Tropical Atlantic Corals. Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology. 2018; 33 (2):198-213.
Chicago/Turabian StyleWilliam M. Brocas; Thomas Felis; Paul Gierz; Gerrit Lohmann; Martin Werner; J. Christina Obert; Denis Scholz; Martin Kölling; Sander R. Scheffers. 2018. "Last Interglacial Hydroclimate Seasonality Reconstructed From Tropical Atlantic Corals." Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology 33, no. 2: 198-213.
Alejandro Tagliafico; Salomé Rangel; Brendan Kelaher; Sander Scheffers; Leslie Christidis. A new technique to increase polyp production in stony coral aquaculture using waste fragments without polyps. Aquaculture 2018, 484, 303 -308.
AMA StyleAlejandro Tagliafico, Salomé Rangel, Brendan Kelaher, Sander Scheffers, Leslie Christidis. A new technique to increase polyp production in stony coral aquaculture using waste fragments without polyps. Aquaculture. 2018; 484 ():303-308.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlejandro Tagliafico; Salomé Rangel; Brendan Kelaher; Sander Scheffers; Leslie Christidis. 2018. "A new technique to increase polyp production in stony coral aquaculture using waste fragments without polyps." Aquaculture 484, no. : 303-308.
Explanations of the Classic Maya civilization demise on the Yucatán Peninsula during the Terminal Classic Period (TCP; ~CE 750–1050) are controversial. Multiyear droughts are one likely cause, but the role of the Caribbean Sea, the dominant moisture source for Mesoamerica, remains largely unknown. Here we present bimonthly-resolved snapshots of reconstructed sea surface temperature (SST) and salinity (SSS) variability in the southern Caribbean from precisely dated fossil corals. The results indicate pronounced interannual to decadal SST and SSS variability during the TCP, which may be temporally coherent to precipitation anomalies on the Yucatán. Our results are best explained by changed Caribbean SST gradients affecting the Caribbean low-level atmospheric jet with consequences for Mesoamerican precipitation, which are possibly linked to changes in Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation strength. Our findings provide a new perspective on the anomalous hydrological changes during the TCP that complement the oft-suggested southward displacement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. We advocate for a strong role of Caribbean SST and SSS condition changes and related ocean-atmosphere interactions that notably influenced the propagation and transport of precipitation to the Yucatán Peninsula during the TCP.
Henry C. Wu; Thomas Felis; Denis Scholz; Cyril Giry; Martin Kölling; Klaus-Peter Jochum; Sander R. Scheffers. Changes to Yucatán Peninsula precipitation associated with salinity and temperature extremes of the Caribbean Sea during the Maya civilization collapse. Scientific Reports 2017, 7, 1 -12.
AMA StyleHenry C. Wu, Thomas Felis, Denis Scholz, Cyril Giry, Martin Kölling, Klaus-Peter Jochum, Sander R. Scheffers. Changes to Yucatán Peninsula precipitation associated with salinity and temperature extremes of the Caribbean Sea during the Maya civilization collapse. Scientific Reports. 2017; 7 (1):1-12.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHenry C. Wu; Thomas Felis; Denis Scholz; Cyril Giry; Martin Kölling; Klaus-Peter Jochum; Sander R. Scheffers. 2017. "Changes to Yucatán Peninsula precipitation associated with salinity and temperature extremes of the Caribbean Sea during the Maya civilization collapse." Scientific Reports 7, no. 1: 1-12.
Ongoing human activities are known to affect nitrogen cycling on coral reefs, but the full history of anthropogenic impact is unclear due to a lack of continuous records. We have used the nitrogen isotopic composition of skeleton-bound organic matter (CS-δ15N) in a coastal Porites coral from Magnetic Island in the Great Barrier Reef as a proxy for N cycle changes over a 168 yr period (1820–1987 AD). The Magnetic Island inshore reef environment is considered to be relatively degraded by terrestrial runoff; given prior CS-δ15N studies from other regions, there was an expectation of both secular change and oscillations in CS-δ15N since European settlement of the mainland in the mid 1800s. Surprisingly, CS-δ15N varied by less than 1.5‰ despite significant land use change on the adjacent mainland over the 168-yr measurement period. After 1930, CS-δ15N may have responded to changes in local river runoff, but the effect was weak. We propose that natural buffering against riverine nitrogen load in this region between 1820 and 1987 is responsible for the observed stability in CS-δ15N. In addition to coral derived skeletalδ15N, we also report, for the first time, δ15N measurements of non-coral derived organic N occluded within the coral skeleton, which appear to record significant changes in the nature of terrestrial N inputs. In the context of previous CS-δ15N records, most of which yield CS-δ15N changes of at least 5‰, the Magnetic Island coral suggests that the inherent down-core variability of the CS-δ15N proxy is less than 2‰ for Porites
Dirk V. Erler; Xingchen (Tony) Wang; Daniel M. Sigman; Sander R. Scheffers; Alfredo Martínez-García; Gerald H. Haug. Nitrogen isotopic composition of organic matter from a 168 year-old coral skeleton: Implications for coastal nutrient cycling in the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 2016, 434, 161 -170.
AMA StyleDirk V. Erler, Xingchen (Tony) Wang, Daniel M. Sigman, Sander R. Scheffers, Alfredo Martínez-García, Gerald H. Haug. Nitrogen isotopic composition of organic matter from a 168 year-old coral skeleton: Implications for coastal nutrient cycling in the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 2016; 434 ():161-170.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDirk V. Erler; Xingchen (Tony) Wang; Daniel M. Sigman; Sander R. Scheffers; Alfredo Martínez-García; Gerald H. Haug. 2016. "Nitrogen isotopic composition of organic matter from a 168 year-old coral skeleton: Implications for coastal nutrient cycling in the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 434, no. : 161-170.
The end of the last interglacial period, ~118 kyr ago, was characterized by substantial ocean circulation and climate perturbations resulting from instabilities of polar ice sheets. These perturbations are crucial for a better understanding of future climate change. The seasonal temperature changes of the tropical ocean, however, which play an important role in seasonal climate extremes such as hurricanes, floods and droughts at the present day, are not well known for this period that led into the last glacial. Here we present a monthly resolved snapshot of reconstructed sea surface temperature in the tropical North Atlantic Ocean for 117.7±0.8 kyr ago, using coral Sr/Ca and δ18O records. We find that temperature seasonality was similar to today, which is consistent with the orbital insolation forcing. Our coral and climate model results suggest that temperature seasonality of the tropical surface ocean is controlled mainly by orbital insolation changes during interglacials.
Thomas Felis; Cyril Giry; Denis Scholz; Gerrit Lohmann; Madlene Pfeiffer; Jürgen Pätzold; Martin Koelling; Sander Scheffers. Tropical Atlantic temperature seasonality at the end of the last interglacial. Nature Communications 2015, 6, 6159 .
AMA StyleThomas Felis, Cyril Giry, Denis Scholz, Gerrit Lohmann, Madlene Pfeiffer, Jürgen Pätzold, Martin Koelling, Sander Scheffers. Tropical Atlantic temperature seasonality at the end of the last interglacial. Nature Communications. 2015; 6 (1):6159.
Chicago/Turabian StyleThomas Felis; Cyril Giry; Denis Scholz; Gerrit Lohmann; Madlene Pfeiffer; Jürgen Pätzold; Martin Koelling; Sander Scheffers. 2015. "Tropical Atlantic temperature seasonality at the end of the last interglacial." Nature Communications 6, no. 1: 6159.
We tested the hypothesis that the nitrogen (N) isotopic signature (δ15N) of coral skeletal organic material (CS-δ15N) matches that of the coral tissue and also reflects the δ15N of water column fixed N, such that CS-δ15N can be used as a proxy for spatio-temporal oceanic N isotope distributions. Strong correlations between the δ15N of skeletal organic material and that of coral tissue in two scleractinian corals (Porites lutea and Favia stelligera) across a tropical coral reef flat support the use of CS-δ15N in reconstructing coral biomass δ15N changes. However, we observed a consistent and species-specific offset between the coral tissue δ15N and the skeletal CS-δ15N. As such, the CS-δ15N is not an absolute measure of tissue δ15N. The CS-δ15N of both coral species and three species of macroalgae increased across the reef flat in response to a natural gradient in water column δ15N. There was an apparent dampening of the water column δ15N gradient recorded in the coral tissue δ15N and the CS-δ15N, possibly caused by shifting trophic status of corals across the reef flat. The CS-δ15N therefore appears to robustly reflect the δ15N of the coral tissue, and the coral system is responsive to the δ15N of the water column N pools. The distortion of the true water column δ15N by corals requires further investigation and is an important consideration for the use of coral skeletons in temporal reconstructions of water column δ15N.
Dirk V. Erler; Xingchen T. Wang; Daniel M. Sigman; Sander R. Scheffers; Benjamin O. Shepherd. Controls on the nitrogen isotopic composition of shallow water corals across a tropical reef flat transect. Coral Reefs 2014, 34, 329 -338.
AMA StyleDirk V. Erler, Xingchen T. Wang, Daniel M. Sigman, Sander R. Scheffers, Benjamin O. Shepherd. Controls on the nitrogen isotopic composition of shallow water corals across a tropical reef flat transect. Coral Reefs. 2014; 34 (1):329-338.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDirk V. Erler; Xingchen T. Wang; Daniel M. Sigman; Sander R. Scheffers; Benjamin O. Shepherd. 2014. "Controls on the nitrogen isotopic composition of shallow water corals across a tropical reef flat transect." Coral Reefs 34, no. 1: 329-338.
Dennis Hubbard; Eberhard Gischler; Peter Davies; Lucien Montaggioni; Gilbert Camoin; Wolf-Christian Dullo; Curt Storlazzi; Michael Field; Charles Fletcher; Eric Grossman; Charles Sheppard; Halard Lescinsky; Douglas Fenner; John McManus; Sander Scheffers. Island outlook: Warm and swampy. Science 2014, 345, 1461 -1461.
AMA StyleDennis Hubbard, Eberhard Gischler, Peter Davies, Lucien Montaggioni, Gilbert Camoin, Wolf-Christian Dullo, Curt Storlazzi, Michael Field, Charles Fletcher, Eric Grossman, Charles Sheppard, Halard Lescinsky, Douglas Fenner, John McManus, Sander Scheffers. Island outlook: Warm and swampy. Science. 2014; 345 (6203):1461-1461.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDennis Hubbard; Eberhard Gischler; Peter Davies; Lucien Montaggioni; Gilbert Camoin; Wolf-Christian Dullo; Curt Storlazzi; Michael Field; Charles Fletcher; Eric Grossman; Charles Sheppard; Halard Lescinsky; Douglas Fenner; John McManus; Sander Scheffers. 2014. "Island outlook: Warm and swampy." Science 345, no. 6203: 1461-1461.
The coastal deposits of Bonaire, Leeward Antilles, are among the most studied archives for extreme-wave events (EWEs) in the Caribbean. Here we present more than 400 electron spin resonance (ESR) and radiocarbon data on coarse-clast deposits from Bonaire’s eastern and western coasts. The chronological data are compared to the occurrence and age of fine-grained extreme-wave deposits detected in lagoons and floodplains. Both approaches are aimed at the identification of EWEs, the differentiation between extraordinary storms and tsunamis, improving reconstructions of the coastal evolution, and establishing a geochronological framework for the events. Although the combination of different methods and archives contributes to a better understanding of the interplay of coastal and archive-related processes, insufficient separation, superimposition or burying of coarse-clast deposits and restricted dating accuracy limit the use of both fine-grained and coarse-clast geoarchives to unravel decadal- to centennial-scale events. At several locations, distinct landforms are attributed to different coastal flooding events interpreted to be of tsunamigenic origin. Coastal landforms on the western coast have significantly been influenced by (sub)-recent hurricanes, indicating that formation of the coarse-clast deposits on the eastern coast is likely to be related to past events of higher energy. Supplementary material: The entire dataset of ESR and 14C dating results used in this paper is available at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18637.
Anja M. Scheffers; Max Engel; S. Matthias May; Sander Scheffers; Renaud Joannes-Boyau; Elke Hänssler; Katharina Kennedy; Dieter Kelletat; Helmut Brückner; Andreas Vött; Gerhard Schellmann; Frank Schäbitz; Ulrich Radtke; Brigitte Sommer; Timo Willershäuser; Thomas Felis. Potential and limits of combining studies of coarse- and fine-grained sediments for the coastal event history of a Caribbean carbonate environment. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 2013, 388, 503 -531.
AMA StyleAnja M. Scheffers, Max Engel, S. Matthias May, Sander Scheffers, Renaud Joannes-Boyau, Elke Hänssler, Katharina Kennedy, Dieter Kelletat, Helmut Brückner, Andreas Vött, Gerhard Schellmann, Frank Schäbitz, Ulrich Radtke, Brigitte Sommer, Timo Willershäuser, Thomas Felis. Potential and limits of combining studies of coarse- and fine-grained sediments for the coastal event history of a Caribbean carbonate environment. Geological Society, London, Special Publications. 2013; 388 (1):503-531.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnja M. Scheffers; Max Engel; S. Matthias May; Sander Scheffers; Renaud Joannes-Boyau; Elke Hänssler; Katharina Kennedy; Dieter Kelletat; Helmut Brückner; Andreas Vött; Gerhard Schellmann; Frank Schäbitz; Ulrich Radtke; Brigitte Sommer; Timo Willershäuser; Thomas Felis. 2013. "Potential and limits of combining studies of coarse- and fine-grained sediments for the coastal event history of a Caribbean carbonate environment." Geological Society, London, Special Publications 388, no. 1: 503-531.
Several proxy-based and modeling studies have investigated long-term changes in Caribbean climate during the Holocene, however, very little is known on its variability on short timescales. Here we reconstruct seasonality and interannual to multidecadal variability of sea surface hydrology of the southern Caribbean Sea by applying paired coral Sr/Ca and δ18O measurements on fossil annually banded Diploria strigosa corals from Bonaire. This allows for better understanding of seasonal to multidecadal variability of the Caribbean hydrological cycle during the mid- to late Holocene. The monthly resolved coral Δδ18O records are used as a proxy for the oxygen isotopic composition of seawater (δ18Osw) of the southern Caribbean Sea. Consistent with modern day conditions, annual δ18Osw cycles reconstructed from three modern corals reveal that freshwater budget at the study site is influenced by both net precipitation and advection of tropical freshwater brought by wind-driven surface currents. In contrast, the annual δ18Osw cycle reconstructed from a mid-Holocene coral indicates a sharp peak towards more negative values in summer, suggesting intense summer precipitation at 6 ka BP (before present). In line with this, our model simulations indicate that increased seasonality of the hydrological cycle at 6 ka BP results from enhanced precipitation in summertime. On interannual to multidecadal timescales, the systematic positive correlation observed between reconstructed sea surface temperature and salinity suggests that freshwater discharged from the Orinoco and Amazon rivers and transported into the Caribbean by wind-driven surface currents is a critical component influencing sea surface hydrology on these timescales.
C. Giry; T. Felis; M. Kölling; W. Wei; G. Lohmann; S. Scheffers. Controls of Caribbean surface hydrology during the mid- to late Holocene: insights from monthly resolved coral records. Climate of the Past 2013, 9, 841 -858.
AMA StyleC. Giry, T. Felis, M. Kölling, W. Wei, G. Lohmann, S. Scheffers. Controls of Caribbean surface hydrology during the mid- to late Holocene: insights from monthly resolved coral records. Climate of the Past. 2013; 9 (2):841-858.
Chicago/Turabian StyleC. Giry; T. Felis; M. Kölling; W. Wei; G. Lohmann; S. Scheffers. 2013. "Controls of Caribbean surface hydrology during the mid- to late Holocene: insights from monthly resolved coral records." Climate of the Past 9, no. 2: 841-858.
Anja Scheffers; Sander Scheffers; Dieter H. Kelletat; Peter Squire; Lindsay Collins; Yue-Xing Feng; Jian-Xin Zhao; Renaud Joannes-Boyau; Simon Matthias May; Gerhard Schellmann; Heather Freeman. Reply to Comment on: Coarse clast ridge sequences as suitable archives for past storm events? Case study on the Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia. Journal of Quaternary Science 2013, 28, 213 -215.
AMA StyleAnja Scheffers, Sander Scheffers, Dieter H. Kelletat, Peter Squire, Lindsay Collins, Yue-Xing Feng, Jian-Xin Zhao, Renaud Joannes-Boyau, Simon Matthias May, Gerhard Schellmann, Heather Freeman. Reply to Comment on: Coarse clast ridge sequences as suitable archives for past storm events? Case study on the Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia. Journal of Quaternary Science. 2013; 28 (2):213-215.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnja Scheffers; Sander Scheffers; Dieter H. Kelletat; Peter Squire; Lindsay Collins; Yue-Xing Feng; Jian-Xin Zhao; Renaud Joannes-Boyau; Simon Matthias May; Gerhard Schellmann; Heather Freeman. 2013. "Reply to Comment on: Coarse clast ridge sequences as suitable archives for past storm events? Case study on the Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia." Journal of Quaternary Science 28, no. 2: 213-215.
High-precision analysis using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) was performed upon known-age Holocene and modern, pre-bomb coral samples to generate a marine reservoir age correction value (ΔR) for the Houtman-Abrolhos Archipelago (28.7°S, 113.8°E) off the Western Australian coast. The mean ΔR value calculated for the Abrolhos Islands, 54 ± 30 yr (1 σ) agrees well with regional ΔR values for Leeuwin Current source waters (N-NW Australia-Java) of 60 ± 38 yr. The Abrolhos Islands show little variation with ΔR values of the northwestern and north Australian coast, underlining the dominance of the more equilibrated western Pacific-derived waters of the Leeuwin Current over local upwelling. The Abrolhos Islands ΔR values have remained stable over the last 2896 cal yr BP, being also attributed to the Leeuwin Current and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signal during this period. Expected future trends will be a strengthening of the teleconnection of the Abrolhos Islands to the climatic patterns of the equatorial Pacific via enhanced ENSO and global warming activity strengthening the Leeuwin Current. The possible effect upon the trend of future ΔR values may be to maintain similar values and an increase in stability. However, warming trends of global climate change may cause increasing dissimilarity of ΔR values due to the effects of increasing heat stress upon lower-latitude coral communities.
Peter Squire; Renaud Joannes-Boyau; Anja M Scheffers; Luke D Nothdurft; Quan Hua; Lindsay B Collins; Sander R Scheffers; Jian-Xin Zhao. A Marine Reservoir Correction for the Houtman-Abrolhos Archipelago, East Indian Ocean, Western Australia. Radiocarbon 2013, 55, 103 -114.
AMA StylePeter Squire, Renaud Joannes-Boyau, Anja M Scheffers, Luke D Nothdurft, Quan Hua, Lindsay B Collins, Sander R Scheffers, Jian-Xin Zhao. A Marine Reservoir Correction for the Houtman-Abrolhos Archipelago, East Indian Ocean, Western Australia. Radiocarbon. 2013; 55 (1):103-114.
Chicago/Turabian StylePeter Squire; Renaud Joannes-Boyau; Anja M Scheffers; Luke D Nothdurft; Quan Hua; Lindsay B Collins; Sander R Scheffers; Jian-Xin Zhao. 2013. "A Marine Reservoir Correction for the Houtman-Abrolhos Archipelago, East Indian Ocean, Western Australia." Radiocarbon 55, no. 1: 103-114.
Supralittoral coarse-clast deposits along the shores of Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles) as well as increased hurricane frequency during the past decade testify to the major hazard of high-energy wave impacts in the southern Caribbean. Since deducing certain events from the subaerial coarse-clast record involves major uncertainties and historical reports are restricted to the past 500 years, we use a new set of vibracore and push core data (i) to contribute to a more reliable Holocene history of regional extreme-wave events and (ii) to evaluate their impact on shoreline evolution. Multi-proxy palaeoenvironmental analyses (XRF, XRD, grain size distribution, carbonate, LOI, microfossils) were carried out using nearshore sedimentary archives from the sheltered western (leeward) side of Bonaire and its small neighbour Klein Bonaire. In combination with 14C-AMS age estimates the stratigraphy reflects a long-term coastal evolution controlled by relative sea level rise, longshore sediment transport, and short-term morphodynamic impulses by extreme wave action, all three of which may have significantly influenced the development of polyhaline lagoons and the demise of mangrove populations. Extreme wave events may be categorized into major episodic incidents (c. 3.6 ka [?] BP; 3.2–3.0 ka BP; 2.0–1.8 ka BP; post-1.3 ka [?] BP), which may correspond to tsunamis and periodic events recurring on the order of decades to centuries, which we interpret as severe tropical cyclones. Extreme wave events seem to control to a certain extent the formation of coastal ridges on Bonaire and, thus, to cause abrupt shifts in the long-term morphodynamic and ecological boundary conditions of the circumlittoral inland bays.
Max Engel; Helmut Brückner; Karoline Messenzehl; Peter Frenzel; Simon Matthias May; Anja Scheffers; Sander Scheffers; Volker Wennrich; Dieter Kelletat. Shoreline changes and high-energy wave impacts at the leeward coast of Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles). Earth, Planets and Space 2012, 64, 905 -921.
AMA StyleMax Engel, Helmut Brückner, Karoline Messenzehl, Peter Frenzel, Simon Matthias May, Anja Scheffers, Sander Scheffers, Volker Wennrich, Dieter Kelletat. Shoreline changes and high-energy wave impacts at the leeward coast of Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles). Earth, Planets and Space. 2012; 64 (10):905-921.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMax Engel; Helmut Brückner; Karoline Messenzehl; Peter Frenzel; Simon Matthias May; Anja Scheffers; Sander Scheffers; Volker Wennrich; Dieter Kelletat. 2012. "Shoreline changes and high-energy wave impacts at the leeward coast of Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles)." Earth, Planets and Space 64, no. 10: 905-921.
Prehistoric storm records are relatively scarce in most parts of the world. This article presents storm records derived from coral rubble‐based geological archives of the Houtman Abrolhos Archipelago located off the west coast of Australia, where the southernmost coral reefs of the Indian Ocean are found. Winter storm swell from the circum‐Antarctic ‘Brave Westerlies’, as well as tropical cyclone waves, have left numerous ridge systems on dozens of islands of the archipelago, all composed of coral rubble from adjacent reefs. At three islands, seven ridge systems were dated by three different methods: U‐series (68 dates), radiocarbon (64 dates), electron spin resonance (7 dates); 139 radiometric dates span the last 5500 years of the Holocene. In contrast to the geomorphological interpretation, the age sequences show ‘inversions’, hiatuses and different ages for the same ridge, all pointing to complicated ridge formation processes. Time gaps, some exceeding 1000 years, are interpreted as phases of erosion and not as phases without storm activity. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Anja M. Scheffers; Sander R. Scheffers; Dieter H. Kelletat; Peter Squire; Lindsay Collins; Yuexing Feng; Jian-Xin Zhao; Renaud Joannes‐Boyau; Simon Matthias May; Gerhard Schellmann; Heather Freeman. Coarse clast ridge sequences as suitable archives for past storm events? Case study on the Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia. Journal of Quaternary Science 2012, 27, 713 -724.
AMA StyleAnja M. Scheffers, Sander R. Scheffers, Dieter H. Kelletat, Peter Squire, Lindsay Collins, Yuexing Feng, Jian-Xin Zhao, Renaud Joannes‐Boyau, Simon Matthias May, Gerhard Schellmann, Heather Freeman. Coarse clast ridge sequences as suitable archives for past storm events? Case study on the Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia. Journal of Quaternary Science. 2012; 27 (7):713-724.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnja M. Scheffers; Sander R. Scheffers; Dieter H. Kelletat; Peter Squire; Lindsay Collins; Yuexing Feng; Jian-Xin Zhao; Renaud Joannes‐Boyau; Simon Matthias May; Gerhard Schellmann; Heather Freeman. 2012. "Coarse clast ridge sequences as suitable archives for past storm events? Case study on the Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia." Journal of Quaternary Science 27, no. 7: 713-724.
To evaluate the potential of optical dating (OSL) in establishing a proper tsunami chronology for Phra Thong Island (SW Thailand), the method was applied to a suite of tsunamigenic and littoral sandy deposits, for which independent age control was available. Small aliquots of coarse grained quartz were used for measurements, and processed statistically by means of appropriate age models. Based on the equivalent dose distributions, the well bleached littoral deposits were analysed with the central age model (CAM); the tsunamigenic samples revealed poor bleaching, thus, the minimum age model (MAM) was applied. The cross-check with independent age data showed good agreement between luminescence ages and the existing radiocarbon chronology for the littoral deposits. The poorly bleached deposits of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami revealed residuals of less than 40 years, which are insignificant for older deposits and demonstrate the general suitability of the dating technique for tsunamites on Phra Thong. Afterwards, the approach was extended to tsunamigenic and littoral sediments of unknown age. Since those revealed properties similar to their reference deposits, the procedures of statistical De determination were adopted. The resulting ages were in agreement with the stratigraphical position and (largely) with the wider chronological context
Dominik Brill; Nicole Klasen; Helmut Brückner; Kruawun Jankaew; Anja Scheffers; Dieter Kelletat; Sander Scheffers. OSL dating of tsunami deposits from Phra Thong Island, Thailand. Quaternary Geochronology 2012, 10, 224 -229.
AMA StyleDominik Brill, Nicole Klasen, Helmut Brückner, Kruawun Jankaew, Anja Scheffers, Dieter Kelletat, Sander Scheffers. OSL dating of tsunami deposits from Phra Thong Island, Thailand. Quaternary Geochronology. 2012; 10 ():224-229.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDominik Brill; Nicole Klasen; Helmut Brückner; Kruawun Jankaew; Anja Scheffers; Dieter Kelletat; Sander Scheffers. 2012. "OSL dating of tsunami deposits from Phra Thong Island, Thailand." Quaternary Geochronology 10, no. : 224-229.
Proxy reconstructions of tropical Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) that extend beyond the period ofud instrumental observations have primarily focused on centennial to millennial variability rather than on seasonalud to multidecadal variability. Here we present monthly-resolved records of Sr/Ca (a proxy of SST) fromud fossil annually-banded Diploria strigosa corals from Bonaire (southern Caribbean Sea). The individual coralsud provide time-windows of up to 68 years length, and the total number of 295 years of record allows forud assessing the natural range of seasonal to multidecadal SST variability in the western tropical Atlantic duringud snapshots of the mid- to late Holocene. Comparable to modern climate, the coral Sr/Ca records revealud that mid- to late Holocene SST was characterised by clear seasonal cycles, persistent quasi-biennial andud prominent interannual as well as inter- to multidecadal-scale variability. However, the magnitude of SSTud variations on these timescales has varied over the last 6.2 ka. The coral records show increased seasonalityud during the mid-Holocene consistent with climatemodel simulations indicating that southern Caribbean SSTud seasonality is induced by insolation changes on orbital timescales,whereas internal dynamics of the climateud system play an important role on shorter timescales. Interannual SST variability is linked to ocean–ud atmosphere interactions of Atlantic and Pacific origin. Pronounced interannual variability in the westernud tropical Atlantic is indicated by a 2.35 ka coral, possibly related to a strengthening of the variability of theud El Niño/Southern Oscillation throughout the Holocene. Prominent inter- to multidecadal SST variability isud evident in the coral records and slightly more pronounced in the mid-Holocene. We finally argue that ourud coral data provide a target for studying Holocene climate variability on seasonal and interannual to multidecadalud timescales, when using further numerical models and high-resolution proxy data
Cyril Giry; Thomas Felis; Martin Koelling; Denis Scholz; Wei Wei; Gerrit Lohmann; Sander Scheffers. Mid- to late Holocene changes in tropical Atlantic temperature seasonality and interannual to multidecadal variability documented in southern Caribbean corals. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 2012, 331-332, 187 -200.
AMA StyleCyril Giry, Thomas Felis, Martin Koelling, Denis Scholz, Wei Wei, Gerrit Lohmann, Sander Scheffers. Mid- to late Holocene changes in tropical Atlantic temperature seasonality and interannual to multidecadal variability documented in southern Caribbean corals. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 2012; 331-332 ():187-200.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCyril Giry; Thomas Felis; Martin Koelling; Denis Scholz; Wei Wei; Gerrit Lohmann; Sander Scheffers. 2012. "Mid- to late Holocene changes in tropical Atlantic temperature seasonality and interannual to multidecadal variability documented in southern Caribbean corals." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 331-332, no. : 187-200.
For the Malay-Thai Peninsula several sea-level curves for the younger Holocene, based on field evidence as well as on hydro-isostatic modelling of a far-field site, have been published. The general assumption is a rapid rise to a mid-Holocene maximum up to +5 m above present sea level, followed by a constant or oscillating regression. However, from the Andaman Sea coast of Thailand, which was affected by the 2004 tsunami, only isolated observations are available regarding Holocene sea levels. Thus, the timing and magnitude of the Holocene highstand as well as the course of the regression remain to be defined. As several palaeotsunamis could be detected in the meantime it is important to know the related sea levels as exactly as possible to judge the energy, inundation width and potential wave height of these events. Therefore, fixed biological indicators from the rocky coasts of the Phang-nga Bay and Phuket, as well as morphological indicators from beach-ridge and swale sequences along the exposed west coast (Ko Phra Thong) were studied, to gain information about the Holocene sea-level development in this region. While oyster and coral data from the Phang-nga Bay and Phuket document a Holocene maximum of +2.6 m at 5700 cal. BP, the ridge crests and swale bases in the northwest of the study area point to maximum heights of +1.5–2.0 m above the present level around 5300 years ago. During the last 3000 years, to when the largest part of the Holocene palaeotsunami deposits from Thailand was dated, relative sea levels (RSL) in both areas did not exceed +1.5 m.
Anja Scheffers; Dominik Brill; Dieter Kelletat; Helmut Brückner; Sander Scheffers; Kelly Fox. Holocene sea levels along the Andaman Sea coast of Thailand. The Holocene 2012, 22, 1169 -1180.
AMA StyleAnja Scheffers, Dominik Brill, Dieter Kelletat, Helmut Brückner, Sander Scheffers, Kelly Fox. Holocene sea levels along the Andaman Sea coast of Thailand. The Holocene. 2012; 22 (10):1169-1180.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnja Scheffers; Dominik Brill; Dieter Kelletat; Helmut Brückner; Sander Scheffers; Kelly Fox. 2012. "Holocene sea levels along the Andaman Sea coast of Thailand." The Holocene 22, no. 10: 1169-1180.
Anja M. Scheffers; Sander Scheffers; Dieter H. Kelletat. Coasts Dominated by Organisms. Impacts of Invasive Species on Coastal Environments 2012, 2, 181 -222.
AMA StyleAnja M. Scheffers, Sander Scheffers, Dieter H. Kelletat. Coasts Dominated by Organisms. Impacts of Invasive Species on Coastal Environments. 2012; 2 ():181-222.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnja M. Scheffers; Sander Scheffers; Dieter H. Kelletat. 2012. "Coasts Dominated by Organisms." Impacts of Invasive Species on Coastal Environments 2, no. : 181-222.
Anja M. Scheffers; Sander Scheffers; Dieter H. Kelletat. Coasts as Archives of the Past. Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation 2012, 2, 223 -237.
AMA StyleAnja M. Scheffers, Sander Scheffers, Dieter H. Kelletat. Coasts as Archives of the Past. Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation. 2012; 2 ():223-237.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnja M. Scheffers; Sander Scheffers; Dieter H. Kelletat. 2012. "Coasts as Archives of the Past." Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation 2, no. : 223-237.
At shorelines, we can observe the constant motion of ocean waters and their effects. Sea-level changes, waves, longshore currents, and tidal currents interact with the rocks and tectonics of the coast to shape shorelines into a multitude of forms. Coastal scientists refer to primary coasts as a category of coastal landscapes which show well-preserved features of former terrestrial morphologies. Ingression coastlines are simply drowned coastal landscapes as ingression refers to the advance of the sea into existing terrestrial topography, like the drowning of a river valley by the Holocene sea level rise. They occur in all latitudes, and in fact all morphological features of continental landscapes may appear as drowned coastal forms and landscapes. The rich diversity of ingression coastlines which owe their preservation to sheltered positions along the shoreline and to the short duration of the recent high sea level (6000 to 7000 years) is presented in 35 figures.
Anja M. Scheffers; Sander R. Scheffers; Dieter H. Kelletat. Coastlines Dominated by Ingression of the Sea into older Terrestrial Landforms. Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation 2012, 2, 73 -96.
AMA StyleAnja M. Scheffers, Sander R. Scheffers, Dieter H. Kelletat. Coastlines Dominated by Ingression of the Sea into older Terrestrial Landforms. Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation. 2012; 2 ():73-96.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnja M. Scheffers; Sander R. Scheffers; Dieter H. Kelletat. 2012. "Coastlines Dominated by Ingression of the Sea into older Terrestrial Landforms." Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation 2, no. : 73-96.
Coastal geomorphology is the study of coastal landforms and their evolution over time. In this topic, we set the scene for discussing the variety of coastal landforms and landscapes and the major climatic and oceanic forces that shaped them during their geologic history. First, we briefly explore landforms along ice coasts, which have an extent of some tens of thousands of kilometres, either as floating shelf ice of Antarctica or calving glacier fronts of Greenland, Alaska or Chile. We then continue with coastal forms dominated by endogenic signatures like faulting, folding or jointing, or which are of volcanic origin and partly drowned by sea level rise in the warm period of today’s climate
Anja M. Scheffers; Sander Scheffers; Dieter H. Kelletat. Coastal Landforms and Landscapes. Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation 2012, 51 -72.
AMA StyleAnja M. Scheffers, Sander Scheffers, Dieter H. Kelletat. Coastal Landforms and Landscapes. Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation. 2012; ():51-72.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnja M. Scheffers; Sander Scheffers; Dieter H. Kelletat. 2012. "Coastal Landforms and Landscapes." Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation , no. : 51-72.