Sedimentación y variaciones del nivel del mar en la costa de Castellón durante el Holoceno

Resumen

The coastal plain of Castellón, in the Spanish Mediterranean coast, consists of Holocene wetland deposits that overlie late Pleistocene alluvial deposits, it was around 7000-6500 cal BP when the wetland environments reached their maximum extent. Coupled interpretation of the sedimentological and geochemical features of these deposits reveals a strong relation between these features and the sea level variations during theHolocene. Thus, during the periods of rise sea level there is an expansion of wetland and an increase of the aquatic plants, charophyceae. On the other side, during lower sea levels, groundwater levels drop and therefore depth and extent of the wetlands fall, resulting on peat formation. The model of sedimentation obtained for the wetland of Almenara has allowed us to distinguish the different oscillations from the Mediterranean Sea for last 7000 yr. So, we have recognized four moments of relative sea level rise ca. 5300 BP, 3500 BP, 2000 BP, and 850 BP. Similar variations are recognized in coastal plains and deltas of western and central Mediterranean.