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Coastal caves and sinkholes
Book chapter

Coastal caves and sinkholes

Peter J Van Hengstum, David A Richards, Bogdan P Onac and Jeffrey A Dorale
Handbook of Sea‐Level Research, pp.83-103
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
02/17/2015
DOI: 10.1002/9781118452547.ch6

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Abstract

This chapter presents a simple model for environmental succession in coastal karst basins (CKB) under sea‐level forcing, and uses this model as a framework for reviewing sea‐level indicators preserved in caves and sinkholes. The model explains how common karst sea‐level indicators develop, and why some of these indicators are sea‐level index points (SLIPs) with a clearly defined indicative meaning, whereas others can only provide maximum or minimum constraints on sea level. The model dovetails geological, environmental, biological, and ecosystem research, and it also provides a simple framework for analyzing the sea‐level proxies that are preserved in coastal karst basins. In order to use karst sea‐level proxies, researchers must also understand the hydrography and stratification of coastal aquifers. In conclusion, sea‐level change drives environmental change in CKBs worldwide, which in turn forces CKBs to transition through predictable environmental states.
coastal caves coastal karst basins (CKB) hydrography sea‐level change sea‐level index points (SLIPs) sea‐level indicators sinkholes stratification

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