A Postglacial Sea-Level Database for Alaska

Project overview

Databases of relative sea-level (RSL) data provide constraints for our understanding of a number of processes including glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA), climate-related sea-level oscillations, and the influence of tectonics. These databases are useful tools because they are analysed systematically, which enables the comparison of data that were previously interpreted and analysed via different methods and approaches, including data that were originally collected to answer questions other than RSL histories. The last decade has seen a reinvigoration in the development of such databases (e.g., Khan et al., 2019). However, they are often focused on intermediate- or far-field regions (those areas beyond the extent of glaciation at the Last Glacial Maximum), with fewer examples in formerly glaciated areas (e.g., Vacchi et al., 2018) and little focus on areas that are also complicated by tectonics (e.g., Engelhart et al., 2015). One such area of absence is for the extensive coastline of Alaska, including the Aleutian Islands. In this complex region, there has been extensive collection of datasets to look at topics such as changes in glacial extent and development of palaeoseismic histories that may also provide crucial data to understand the evolution of RSL. Via literature review, this project will compile and systematically analyse potential sea level indicators in Alaska to develop a series of RSL histories. Possible applications of this completed dataset will include improved models of the GIA processes in subduction zones, improved ice sheet histories for Alaska Peninsula ice sheet, and understanding the complex links between GIA and tectonics.

If you are interested in this project please contact the lead supervisor:

Dr. Simon Engelhart (simon.e.engelhart@durham.ac.uk)