Evidence for a postglacial low relative sea-level stand in the drowned delta of the Merrimack River, Western Gulf of Maine

R. N. Oldale; L. E. Wommack; A.B. Whitney

doi:10.1016/0033-5894(83)90039-x

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Evidence for a postglacial low relative sea-level stand in the drowned delta of the Merrimack River, Western Gulf of Maine

R. N. Oldale·L. E. Wommack·A.B. Whitney

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Abstract

A submerged delta of the Merrimack River, located offshore between Cape Ann, Massachusetts, and the New Hampshire border, indicates a postglacial low relative see-level stand of about -47 m. The low stand is inferred to date to 10,500 yr B.P., but a lack of age control makes this assignment uncertain. A curve based on a late Wisconsinan, high relative sea-level stand of +32m at 13,000 yr B.P., a low stand of -47m at 10,500 yr B.P., and younger radiocarbon dates related to sea-level rise indicates an early postglacial crustal rise of at least 5 m per century.

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Quaternary Research Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 42.7379351246715° to 42.867912483915305° latitude; -71.1309814453125° to -70.77117919921874° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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R. N. Oldale, L. E. Wommack, A.B. Whitney. 2017-01-20. Evidence for a postglacial low relative sea-level stand in the drowned delta of the Merrimack River, Western Gulf of Maine. https://doi.org/10.1016/0033-5894(83)90039-x

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