The mid-Holocene sea-level highstand is a well-known phenomenon in sea-level science, yet the knowledge on the highstand’s spatial and temporal distribution remains incomplete. Here we study the southwest coast of the Arabian-Persian Gulf where a mid-Holocene sea-level highstand and subsequent sea-level fall may have occurred due to the Earth crustal response to meltwater load. Sea-level indicators were established using standard facies analysis and error calculations, then constrained through glacio-isostatic adjustment (GIA) modelling and though procedures based on Gaussian Process and exponential decay analysis. This work allowed to identify the highstand at 1.6 ± 0.4 m occurring 6.7–6.0 ka, in excellent agreement with GIA model results. The subsequent shoreline migration followed the geophysical constraint by prograding in line with the sea-level fall until around 3 ka. Then, the strength of the external control weakened and internal processes, in particular sediment binding through microbial activity, started controlling the geometry of the accommodation space.
AlsharhanASKendallCG (2003) Holocene coastal carbonates and evaporites of the southern Arabian Gulf and their ancient analogues. Earth-Science Reviews61: 191–243.
2.
AmanteCEakinsBW (2009) ETOPO1 arc-minute global relief model: Procedures, data sources and analysis. NOAA technical memorandum NESDIS NGDC-24. National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA10(2009): V5C8276M.
3.
AqrawiA (2001) Stratigraphic signatures of climatic change during the Holocene evolution of the Tigris–Euphrates delta, lower Mesopotamia. Global and Planetary Change28: 267–283. PII: S0921-8181Ž00.00078-3.
4.
ArhanDPavlopoulosKFouacheE (2020) Holocene relative sea-level variations and archeological implications, Abu Dhabi western region, United Arab Emirates. Arabian Journal of Geosciences13: 254.
5.
BowerASHuntHDPriceJF (2000) Character and dynamics of the Red Sea and Persian Gulf outflows. Journal of Geophysical Research105(C3): 6387–6414.
ChristNImmenhauserAWoodRA, et al. (2015) Petrography and environmental controls on the formation of Phanerozoic marine carbonate hardgrounds. Earth-Science Reviews151: 176–226.
8.
CourtWMPaulALokierSW (2017) The preservation potential of environmentally diagnostic sedimentary structures from a coastal sabkha. Marine Geology386: 1–18.
9.
EngelMStrohmengerCJPeisKT, et al. (2022) High-resolution facies analysis of a coastal sabkha in the eastern Gulf of Salwa (Qatar): A spatio-temporal reconstruction. Sedimentology69: 1119–1150.
10.
EvansG (2011) An historical review of the Quaternary sedimentology of the Gulf (Arabian/Persian Gulf) and its geological impacts. Int. Assoc. Sedimentol. Spec. Publ43: 13–44.
11.
FretwellPPritchardHDVaughanDG, et al. (2013) Bedmap2: Improved ice bed, surface and thickness datasets for Antarctica. The Cryosphere7(1): 375–393.
12.
GeYLokierSWHoffmannR, et al. (2020) Composite micrite envelopes in the lagoon of Abu Dhabi and their application for the recognition of ancient firm- to hardgrounds. Marine Geology423: 106141.
13.
HijmaMPEngelhartSETornqvistTE, et al. (2015) A protocol for a geological sea-level database. In: ShennanILongAJHortonBP (eds) Handbook of Sea-Level Research. Chichester: Wiley, pp.536–556.
14.
KempACWrightAJEdwardsRJ, et al. (2018) Relative sea-level change in Newfoundland, Canada during the past ∼3000 years. Quaternary Science Reviews201: 89–110.
15.
KendallCGSTCAlsharhanAS (2011) Quaternary Carbonate and Evaporite Sedimentary Facies and Their Ancient Analogues: A Tribute to Douglas James Shearman. Wiley-Blackwell.
16.
KirkhamA (1998) A Quaternary proximal foreland ramp and its continental fringe, Arabian Gulf, U.A.E. In: WrightVPBurchetteTP (eds) Carbonate Ramps 149. London: Geological Society, Special Publication, pp. 15–41.
17.
KirkhamAEvansG (2020) Carbonate sedimentation around Jebel Dhanna: Models for parts of the buried Holocene sabkha sequences elsewhere along the Abu Dhabi coastline. Carbonates and Evaporites35: 24.
18.
LambeckK (1996) Shoreline reconstructions for the Persian Gulf since the last glacial maximum. Earth and Planetary Science Letters142(1-2): 43–57.
19.
LambeckKPurcellAJohnstonP, et al. (2003) Water-load definition in the glacio-hydro-isostatic sea-level equation. Quaternary Science Reviews22(2-4): 309–318.
20.
LindauerSSantosGMSteinhofA, et al. (2017) The local marine reservoir effect at Kalba (UAE) between the Neolithic and Bronze Age: An indicator of sea level and climate changes. Quaternary Geochronology42: 105–116.
21.
LokierSSteuberT (2008) Quantification of carbonate-ramp sedimentation and progradation rates for the Late Holocene Abu Dhabi shoreline. Journal of Sedimentary Research78: 423–431.
22.
LokierSWBatemanMDLarkinNR, et al. (2015) Late Quaternary sea-level changes of the Persian Gulf. Quaternary Research84(1): 69–81.
23.
LokierSWCourtWMOnumaT, et al. (2018) Implications of sea-level rise in a modern carbonate ramp setting. Geomorphology304: 64–73.
24.
MariottiGFagherazziS (2012) Modeling the effect of tides and waves on benthic biofilms. Journal of Geophysical Research117: n/a–n/a.
25.
MitrovicaJXMilneGA (2002) On the origin of late Holocene sea-level highstands within equatorial ocean basins. Quaternary Science Reviews21: 2179–2190.
26.
MitrovicaJXPeltierWR (1991) On postglacial geoid subsidence over the equatorial oceans. Journal of Geophysical Research96: 20053–20071.
27.
NakadaMLambeckK (1987) Glacial rebound and relative sea-level variations: A new appraisal. Geophysical Journal International90(1): 171–224.
28.
ParkerAGMorleyMWArmitageSJ, et al. (2020) Palaeoenvironmental and sea level changes during the Holocene in eastern Saudi Arabia and their implications for Neolithic populations. Quaternary Science Reviews249: 106618.
29.
ParkRK (2011) The impact of sea-level change on ramp margin deposition: Lessons from the holocene sabkhas of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Int. Assoc. Sedimentol. Spec. Publ43: 89–112.
30.
PeltierWRArgusDFDrummondR (2015) Space geodesy constrains ice age terminal deglaciation: The global ICE-6G_C (VM5a) model. Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth120: 450–487.
31.
PurkisSJKohlerKE (2008) The role of topography in promoting fractal patchiness in a carbonate shelf landscape. Coral Reefs 27: 977–989.
32.
PurkisSJRiversJStrohmengerCJ, et al. (2017) Complex interplay between depositional and petrophysical environments in holocene tidal carbonates (Al Ruwais, Qatar). Sedimentology64: 1646–1675.
33.
PurkisSJRenegarDARieglBM (2011) The most temperature-adapted corals have an Achilles’ heel. Marine Pollution Bulletin62: 246–250.
34.
PurkisSJRieglBMAndrefouetS (2005) Remote sensing of geomorphology and facies patterns on a modern carbonate ramp (Arabian Gulf, Dubai, U.A.E.). Journal of Sedimentary Research75: 861–876.
35.
PurkisSJRowlandsGPKerrJM (2015) Unravelling the influence of water depth and wave energy on the facies diversity of shelf carbonates. Sedimentology62: 541–565.
ReijmerJJG (2021) Marine carbonate factories: Review and update. Sedimentology68: 1729–1796.
38.
ReimerPJBaillieMGLBardE, et al. (2009) IntCal09 and Marine09 radiocarbon age calibration curves, 0–50,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon51(4): 1111–1150.
39.
ReimerPJBardEBaylissA, et al. (2013) IntCal13 and Marine13 radiocarbon age calibration curves 0–50,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon55(4): 1869–1887.
40.
RieglBMPurkisSJ (2012) Dynamics of Gulf Coral Communities: Observations and models from the world’s Hottest Coral Sea. In: RieglBMPurkisSJ (eds) Coral Reefs of the Gulf: Adaptation to Climatic Extremes, Coral Reefs of the World, vol. 3. Dordrecht: Springer, pp.71–93.
41.
RiversJEngelMDalrympleR, et al. (2020) Are carbonate barrier islands mobile? Insights from a mid to late-Holocene system, Al Ruwais, northern Qatar. Sedimentology67: 534–558.
42.
RoyKPeltierWR (2015) Glacial isostatic adjustment, relative sea level history and mantle viscosity: Reconciling relative sea level model predictions for the U.S. East coast with geological constraints. Geophysical Journal International201: 1156–1181.
43.
RoyKPeltierWR (2017) Space-geodetic and water level gauge constraints on continental uplift and tilting over North America: Regional convergence of the ICE-6G_C (VM5a/VM6) models. Geophysical Journal International210: 1115–1142.
44.
SchlagerW (2004) Fractal nature of stratigraphic sequences. Geology32: 185–188.
45.
ShinnEA (2011) Interplay between Holocene sedimentation and diagenesis, and implications for hydrocarbon exploitation: return to the sabkha of Ras Umm. Int. Assoc. Sedimentol. Spec. Publ43: 133–148.
46.
SouthonJKashgarianMFontugneM, et al. (2002) Marine reservoir corrections for the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. Radiocarbon44(1): 167–180.
47.
SpadaGMeliniD (2019) On some properties of the glacial isostatic adjustment fingerprints. Water11: 1844.
48.
SternRJJohnsonP (2010) Continental lithosphere of the Arabian Plate: A geologic, petrologic, and geophysical synthesis. Earth-Science Reviews101: 29–67.
49.
StrohmengerCJAl-MansooriAAl-JeelaniO, et al. (2010) The sabkha sequence at Mussafah Channel (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates): Facies stacking patterns, microbial-mediated dolomite and evaporite overprint. GeoArabia15: 49–90.
50.
StrohmengerCJSheblHAl-MansooriA, et al. (2011) Facies stacking patterns in a modern arid environment: A case study of the Abu Dhabi sabhka in the vicinity of Al-Qanatir Island, United Arab Emirates. Int. Assoc. Sedimentol. Spec. Publ43: 149–182.
51.
Suarez-GonzalezPBenitoMIQuijadaIE, et al. (2019) ‘trapping and binding’: A review of the factors controlling the development of fossil agglutinated microbialites and their distribution in space and time. Earth-Science Reviews194: 182–215.
52.
WilliamsHDBurgessPMWrightVP, et al. (2011) Investigating carbonate platform types: Multiple controls and a continuum of geometries. Journal of Sedimentary Research81: 18–37.
53.
WoodroffeSAHortonBP (2005) Holocene sea-level changes in the indo-Pacific. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences25: 29–43.
54.
WrightVPBurgessPM (2005) The carbonate factory continuum, facies mosaics and microfacies: An appraisal of some of the key concepts underpinning carbonate sedimentology. Facies51: 17–23.
55.
WuMHarrisPEberliGet al. (2021) Sea-level, storms, and sedimentation – Controls on the architecture of the Andros tidal flats (Great Bahama Bank). Sedimentary Geology420: 105932.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
