Beach-ridge formation as a possible indicator for an open Limfjord – North Sea connection

Trine Freiesleben; Lasse Rokkedahl Berntsen; Maria Blæsbjerg; Emilia Høffer; Christian Rasmussen; Nicolaj Krog Larsen

doi:10.34194/geusb.v57.8358

Authors

Trine Freiesleben Department of Natural Science (INM), Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark; Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, Roskilde, Denmark https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8616-2099
Lasse Rokkedahl Berntsen Department of Natural Science (INM), Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7871-4727
Maria Blæsbjerg Department of Natural Science (INM), Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9264-2359
Emilia Høffer Department of Natural Science (INM), Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3724-3719
Christian Rasmussen UNESCO Global Geopark, Vestjylland, Denmark; Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2497-2990
Nicolaj Krog Larsen Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0117-1106

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34194/geusb.v57.8358

Keywords:

Optically stimulated luminescence, Raised beach ridges, sea-level changes, Late Holocene, Limfjord, Sediment dating

Abstract

Raised beach ridges are prograded sequences of wave-built deposits that may provide valuable information about past relative sea-level changes, climate change and coastal evolution. In the Limfjord in northern Denmark, the Early and Middle Holocene sea-level changes are well-constrained. However, our understanding of Late Holocene sea-level fluctuations is limited, and the exact period when the coastal barrier between the Limfjord and the North Sea formed remains uncertain. In this study, we use optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating to determine the age of raised beach ridges at Gjellerodde in the western part of the Limfjord. The OSL ages presented here indicate that the beach ridges formed during three periods at 3.3–2.7, 1.4–1.0, 0.2–0.1 ka. In addition our data suggest a c. 0.2 mm/yr relative sea-level fall during the Late Holocene. The three distinct periods of beach-ridge formation coincide with periods when the Limfjord was open towards the North Sea as documented in historical records and marine records. This suggests that OSL dating of beach ridges can be used as a potential indicator for determining when the connection between the Limfjord and the North Sea was open in the Late Holocene.

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