Late Quaternary relative sea‐level changes and vertical movements at Lipari (Aeolian Islands)

Abstract

Indicators of former sea‐levels are recognised on the emergent portion of Lipari, Aeolian Islands. They correlate with three raised shorelines, located at elevations of 43–45 m above present sea‐level (I), 23–27 m (II) and about 12 m (III). According to stratigraphical constraints, these shorelines correlate with the sea‐level highstands corresponding to marine oxygen isotope substages 5e (124 ka), 5c (100 ka) and 5a (81 ka), respectively. The correlation of the shoreline I with substage 5e is supported by a U/Th age (119 ± 6 ka) obtained from corals. Chronological and height data relevant to the fossil shorelines indicate that Lipari was affected by uplift with an average rate of 0.34 mm yr −1 during the past 125 ka. This uplift rate accords with the average uplift rates obtained, during the same time period, from the nearby islands of Filicudi (0.31 mm yr −1 ) and Salina (0.36 mm yr −1 ). Combined, these data suggest a similar uplift trend related to regional tectonic processes. In contrast to the long‐term uplift, a localised submergence trend, documented especially for the last century, affects the eastern coast of Lipari. This subsidence is related to neo‐ and/or volcano‐tectonic processes. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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