Submarine Geomorphology of the Southwestern Sardinian Continental Shelf (Mediterranean Sea): Insights into the Last Glacial Maximum Sea-Level Changes and Related Environments
During the lowstand sea-level phase of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), a large part of the current Mediterranean continental shelf emerged. Erosional and depositional processes shaped the coastal strips, while inland areas were affected by aeolian and fluvial processes. Evidence of both the lowstand...
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/2/155 |
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| author | Giacomo Deiana Luciano Lecca Rita Teresa Melis Mauro Soldati Valentino Demurtas Paolo Emanuele Orrù |
| author_facet | Giacomo Deiana Luciano Lecca Rita Teresa Melis Mauro Soldati Valentino Demurtas Paolo Emanuele Orrù |
| author_sort | Giacomo Deiana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | During the lowstand sea-level phase of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), a large part of the current Mediterranean continental shelf emerged. Erosional and depositional processes shaped the coastal strips, while inland areas were affected by aeolian and fluvial processes. Evidence of both the lowstand phase and the subsequent phases of eustatic sea level rise can be observed on the continental shelf of Sardinia (Italy), including submerged palaeo-shorelines and landforms, and indicators of relict coastal palaeo-environments. This paper shows the results of a high-resolution survey on the continental shelf off San Pietro Island (southwestern Sardinia). Multisensor and multiscale data—obtained by means of seismic sparker, sub-bottom profiler chirp, multibeam, side scan sonar, diving, and uncrewed aerial vehicles—made it possible to reconstruct the morphological features shaped during the LGM at depths between 125 and 135 m. In particular, tectonic controlled palaeo-cliffs affected by landslides, the mouth of a deep palaeo-valley fossilized by marine sediments and a palaeo-lagoon containing a peri-littoral thanatocenosis (18,983 ± 268 cal BP) were detected. The Younger Dryas palaeo-shorelines were reconstructed, highlighted by a very well preserved beachrock. The coastal paleo-landscape with lagoon-barrier systems and retro-littoral dunes frequented by the Mesolithic populations was reconstructed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:10:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-adbd710f44c3435195c87242766f1d18 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:10:20Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-adbd710f44c3435195c87242766f1d182023-12-03T12:50:42ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412021-01-0113215510.3390/w13020155Submarine Geomorphology of the Southwestern Sardinian Continental Shelf (Mediterranean Sea): Insights into the Last Glacial Maximum Sea-Level Changes and Related EnvironmentsGiacomo Deiana0Luciano Lecca1Rita Teresa Melis2Mauro Soldati3Valentino Demurtas4Paolo Emanuele Orrù5Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, ItalyDepartment of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, ItalyDepartment of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, ItalyDepartment of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, ItalyDepartment of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, ItalyDepartment of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, ItalyDuring the lowstand sea-level phase of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), a large part of the current Mediterranean continental shelf emerged. Erosional and depositional processes shaped the coastal strips, while inland areas were affected by aeolian and fluvial processes. Evidence of both the lowstand phase and the subsequent phases of eustatic sea level rise can be observed on the continental shelf of Sardinia (Italy), including submerged palaeo-shorelines and landforms, and indicators of relict coastal palaeo-environments. This paper shows the results of a high-resolution survey on the continental shelf off San Pietro Island (southwestern Sardinia). Multisensor and multiscale data—obtained by means of seismic sparker, sub-bottom profiler chirp, multibeam, side scan sonar, diving, and uncrewed aerial vehicles—made it possible to reconstruct the morphological features shaped during the LGM at depths between 125 and 135 m. In particular, tectonic controlled palaeo-cliffs affected by landslides, the mouth of a deep palaeo-valley fossilized by marine sediments and a palaeo-lagoon containing a peri-littoral thanatocenosis (18,983 ± 268 cal BP) were detected. The Younger Dryas palaeo-shorelines were reconstructed, highlighted by a very well preserved beachrock. The coastal paleo-landscape with lagoon-barrier systems and retro-littoral dunes frequented by the Mesolithic populations was reconstructed.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/2/155submarine geomorphologymorphostratigraphysea-level changesLast Glacial MaximumSardiniaItaly |
| spellingShingle | Giacomo Deiana Luciano Lecca Rita Teresa Melis Mauro Soldati Valentino Demurtas Paolo Emanuele Orrù Submarine Geomorphology of the Southwestern Sardinian Continental Shelf (Mediterranean Sea): Insights into the Last Glacial Maximum Sea-Level Changes and Related Environments Water submarine geomorphology morphostratigraphy sea-level changes Last Glacial Maximum Sardinia Italy |
| title | Submarine Geomorphology of the Southwestern Sardinian Continental Shelf (Mediterranean Sea): Insights into the Last Glacial Maximum Sea-Level Changes and Related Environments |
| title_full | Submarine Geomorphology of the Southwestern Sardinian Continental Shelf (Mediterranean Sea): Insights into the Last Glacial Maximum Sea-Level Changes and Related Environments |
| title_fullStr | Submarine Geomorphology of the Southwestern Sardinian Continental Shelf (Mediterranean Sea): Insights into the Last Glacial Maximum Sea-Level Changes and Related Environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Submarine Geomorphology of the Southwestern Sardinian Continental Shelf (Mediterranean Sea): Insights into the Last Glacial Maximum Sea-Level Changes and Related Environments |
| title_short | Submarine Geomorphology of the Southwestern Sardinian Continental Shelf (Mediterranean Sea): Insights into the Last Glacial Maximum Sea-Level Changes and Related Environments |
| title_sort | submarine geomorphology of the southwestern sardinian continental shelf mediterranean sea insights into the last glacial maximum sea level changes and related environments |
| topic | submarine geomorphology morphostratigraphy sea-level changes Last Glacial Maximum Sardinia Italy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/2/155 |
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