The sedimentary record of palaeoenvironments and sea-level change in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, through the last glacial cycle

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dc.contributor.authorReeves, JMen_AU
dc.contributor.authorChivas, ARen_AU
dc.contributor.authorGarcía, Aen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHolt, Sen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCouapel, MJJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorJones, BGen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCendón, DIen_AU
dc.contributor.authorFink, Den_AU
dc.date.accessioned2021-12-16T01:21:07Zen_AU
dc.date.available2021-12-16T01:21:07Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2008-05-15en_AU
dc.date.statistics2021-11-09en_AU
dc.description.abstractEnvironmental evolution of the Gulf of Carpentaria region, the world's largest tropical epicontinental seaway, through the last glacial cycle has been determined from a series of six sediment cores. These cores form the focus of a multi-disciplinary study to elucidate sea level, climate and environmental change in the region. The sedimentary record reveals a series of facies including open shallow marine, marginal marine, estuarine, lacustrine and subaerial exposure, throughout the extent of the basin during this period. The partial or complete closure of the central basin from marine waters results from sea level falling below the height of one or both of the sills that border the Gulf—the Arafura Sill to the west (53 m below present sea level (bpsl)) and Torres Strait to the east (12 m bpsl). The extent and timing of these closures, and restriction of the shallow waterbody within, are intrinsic to local ocean circulation, available latent heat transport and the movement of people and animals between Australia and New Guinea. Whilst the occurrence of the palaeo-Lake Carpentaria has previously been identified, this study expands on the hydrological conditions of the lacustrine phases and extends the record through the Last Interglacial, detailing the previous sea-level highstand (MIS 5.5) and subsequent retreat. When sea levels were low during the MIS 6 glacial period, the Gulf was largely subaerially exposed and traversed by meandering rivers. The MIS 5 transgression (∼130 ka BP) led to marine then alternating marine/estuarine conditions through to MIS 4 (∼70 ka BP) when a protracted lacustrine phase, of varying salinity and depth/area, and including periods of near desiccation, persisted until about 12.2 cal ka BP. The lake expanded to near maximum size (∼190 000 km2) following the intensification/restoration of the Australian monsoon at 14 ka BP. This lake-full phase was short-lived, as by 12.2 cal ka BP, marine waters were entering the basin, coincident with the progressive sea-level rise. Fully marine conditions were restored by about 10.5 cal ka BP by westward connection to the Arafura Sea (Indian Ocean), whereas connections to the Pacific Ocean (Coral Sea) did not occur until about 8 cal ka BP. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationReeves, J. M., Chivas, A. R., García, A., Holt, S., Couapel, M. J. J., Jones, B. G., Cendón, D. I., & Fink, D. (2008). The sedimentary record of palaeoenvironments and sea-level change in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, through the last glacial cycle. Quaternary International, 183(1), 3-22. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2007.11.019en_AU
dc.identifier.issn1040-6182en_AU
dc.identifier.issue1en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleQuaternary Internationalen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination3-22en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2007.11.019en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/12474en_AU
dc.identifier.volume183en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevieren_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectSedimentsen_AU
dc.subjectGlaciersen_AU
dc.subjectSea levelen_AU
dc.subjectWater currentsen_AU
dc.subjectHydrologyen_AU
dc.titleThe sedimentary record of palaeoenvironments and sea-level change in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, through the last glacial cycleen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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