Abstract
A database of published and new relative sea-level (RSL) data for the past 16 ka constrains the sea-level histories of the Pacific coast of central North America (southern British Columbia to central California). Our reevaluation of the stratigraphic context and radiocarbon age of sea-level indicators from geological and archaeological investigations yields 600 sea-level index points and 241 sea-level limiting points. We subdivided the database into 12 regions based on the availability of data, tectonic setting, and distance from the former Cordilleran ice sheet. Most index (95%) and limiting points (54%) are <7 ka;="" older="" data="" come="" mainly="" from="" british="" columbia="" and="" san="" francisco="" bay.="" the="" stratigraphic="" position="" of="" points="" was="" used="" as="" a="" first-order="" assessment="" of="" compaction.="" formerly="" glaciated="" areas="" show="" variable="" rsl="" change;="" where="" data="" are="" present,="" highstands="" of="" rsl="" occur="" immediately="" post-deglaciation="" and="" in="" the="" mid="" to="" late="" holocene.="" sites="" at="" the="" periphery="" and="" distant="" to="" formerly="" glaciated="" areas="" demonstrate="" a="" continuous="" rise="" in="" rsl="" with="" a="" decreasing="" rate="" through="" time="" due="" to="" the="" collapse="" of="" the="" peripheral="" forebulge="" and="" the="" reduction="" in="" meltwater="" input="" during="" deglaciation.="" late="" holocene="" rsl="" change="" varies="" spatially="" from="" falling="" at="" 0.7="" ±="" 0.8="" mm="" a−1="" in="" southern="" british="" columbia="" to="" rising="" at="" 1.5="" ±="" 0.3="" mm="" a−1="" in="" california.="" the="" different="" sea-level="" histories="" are="" an="" ongoing="" isostatic="" response="" to="" deglaciation="" of="" the="" cordilleran="" and="" laurentide="" ice="">
Keywords
Cascadia subduction zone, Glacial isostatic adjustment, Holocene, Pacific North America, Sea-level database