Pleistocene sea level changes and glacial history of the Hornsund area, Svalbard

Abstract

The first radiocarbon datings of shells and whale bones from raised marine terraces of Hornsund (Birkenmajer & Olsson 1970) showed that with regard to Quaternary geology South Spitsbergen is very different from the rest of Svalbard. Birkenmajer & Olsson (1970) concluded that the 7.59.0 m terrace is about 9,400 years B.P. (uncorrected). This altitude is unusually low in comparison with other Svalbard regions where in the Preboreal-Boreal period the relative sea-level was 3C-50 m or even 70m higher than today (Salvigsen 1981). On the other hand, in the Hornsund area very high terraces were recorded. Werenskiold (1922) reported the existence of a 340m terrace in S ~ r k a p pL and. In Steinvikdalen, Jahn (1959) found a well developed pebble beach at 2W230 m level as well as evidence of sea washing reaching 275 m a d .