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Holocene Relative Sea-Level Fluctuations in the St. Lawrence Estuary, Québec, Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

J.C. Dionne
J.C. Dionne*
Affiliation:
Department of Geography and Centre d'Études Nordiques,, Université Laval, Québec, Qc, Canada G1K 7P4
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Abstract

Between 7000 and 6000 yr B.P., relative sea level was as much as 5 m lower than today in the St. Lawrence estuary, Québec. A small transgression (Laurentian transgression) occurred between 5800 and 4400 yr B.P., which resulted in the construction of an 8- to 10-m terrace. About 3000 yr B.P., relative sea level was similar to present, and then a stillstand or a slight rise occurred during which a cliff (Micmac cliff) was cut into the emerged terrace. During a subsequent lowering of relative sea level (coastal emergence), a low aggradational terrace (Mitis terrace) was built between 2300 and 1500 yr B.P. at the base of the Micmac cliff. A new emergence curve for the south shore of the St. Lawrence estuary showing a mid-Holocene high stand of relative sea level is therefore proposed.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 29 , Issue 3 , May 1988 , pp. 233 - 244
Copyright
University of Washington

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