Holocene relative sea-level changes and coastal evolution along the coastlines of Kamaran Island and As-Salif Peninsula, Yemen, southern Red Sea

Geomorphic features (fossil terraces, notches and sea cliffs) from the southern Red Sea coasts provide valuable indicators of past sea-level change that enable the quantification of both the timing and magnitude of the mid-Holocene sea-level highstand. We demonstrate the utility of wave-cut notches in the southern Red Sea, and present U-series dated sea-level indicators from two locations on the As-Salif Peninsula that suggest a mid-Holocene highstand of -0.5-1 m above present mean sea level (apmsl) at about 5-5.4 Ica BP. In addition, the similarity of the elevations of the different sea-level indicators at the two locations in As-Salif Peninsula and Kamran Island suggest relative tectonic stability, with limited influence of salt diapirism. Comparison of our data to other estimates of the Red Sea mid-Holocene highstand, and glacio-isostatic predictions suggest that water loading (and deformational response) is the primary factor in the spatial and temporal variability the mid-Holocene highstand, with some possible localized tectonic and neotectonic overprinting. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Geomorphic features from the southern Red Sea coasts provide valuable indicators of past sea-level change, with water loading being the primary factor influencing the spatial and temporal variability of the mid-Holocene highstand. Sea-level indicators from two locations on the As-Salif Peninsula suggest a mid-Holocene highstand of -0.5-1 m above present mean sea level.