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the florida state university college of arts and sciences evolution of ...

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ABSTRACT<br />

The goal <strong>of</strong> this investigation was to determine whe<strong>the</strong>r highly accurate sampling <strong>and</strong><br />

dating methods could be employed to develop a high-resolution history <strong>of</strong> barrier <strong>evolution</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

sea-level change. The focus <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> study was St. Vincent Isl<strong>and</strong>, an undeveloped barrier isl<strong>and</strong><br />

beach ridge plain in <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>astern Gulf <strong>of</strong> Mexico. The isl<strong>and</strong> consists <strong>of</strong> more than 100<br />

beach ridges organized into a dozen groups or sets based on <strong>the</strong>ir topographic expression <strong>and</strong><br />

geographic pattern. These ridges represent sequential paleo-shoreline positions over <strong>the</strong> 4000+<br />

year history <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong>. Given <strong>the</strong> long-term tectonic stability <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn Gulf <strong>of</strong> Mexico<br />

throughout <strong>the</strong> Quaternary, <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong> holds <strong>the</strong> potential for a unique high-resolution chronology<br />

<strong>of</strong> mid- to late-Holocene sea-level change.<br />

The sampling <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> beach ridges by means <strong>of</strong> trenches, ra<strong>the</strong>r than just cores, allowed for<br />

<strong>the</strong> collection <strong>of</strong> basal deposits as well as visual confirmation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> origin <strong>and</strong> structure <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

ridges. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) pr<strong>of</strong>iles confirmed <strong>the</strong> origin <strong>and</strong> structure <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ridges.<br />

Based on <strong>the</strong>se techniques it is evident that <strong>the</strong> beach ridges on <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong> were built by swash<br />

processes ra<strong>the</strong>r than by storms. The direct dating <strong>of</strong> quartz grains collected from <strong>the</strong> base <strong>of</strong><br />

several <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong>s beach ridges via optically stimulated luminescence dating (OSL) provided<br />

an accurate measure <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> depositional ages <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ridges. The ridges on St. Vincent Isl<strong>and</strong> have<br />

ages ranging from zero to 4,100 years, with <strong>the</strong> oldest ridges on <strong>the</strong> north side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> youngest ridges on <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>ast side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong>. These ages can be correlated with <strong>the</strong><br />

most recent sea level curve produced for <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn Gulf <strong>of</strong> Mexico. These ages have also<br />

been used in conjunction with topographic maps, leveling or topographic pr<strong>of</strong>ile surveys <strong>and</strong><br />

LIDAR data, to calculate <strong>the</strong> rates <strong>of</strong> beach ridge plain progradation <strong>and</strong> beach ridge formation<br />

over time. Results show that during times <strong>of</strong> sea level fall, <strong>the</strong> progradation rates on St. Vincent<br />

Isl<strong>and</strong> were relatively fast while during times <strong>of</strong> sea level rise, rates were considerably slower.<br />

The result <strong>of</strong> this project is a better <strong>and</strong> more detailed underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> influence <strong>of</strong> sea-level<br />

change on barrier isl<strong>and</strong> development.<br />

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