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The role of relative sea-level rise and changing sediment supply on Holocene gravel barrier development: the example of Porlock, Somerset, UK

S. Jennings

School of Biological and Applied Sciences, University of North London, 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB, UK

J. D. Orford

School of Geosciences, Queen's University, Belfast BT7 INN, Northern Ireland, UK

M. Canti

Ancient Monuments Laboratory, English Heritage, 23 Savile Row, London WIX lAB, UK

R. J. N. Devoy

Coastal Resources Centre, Geography Department, University College Cork, Ireland

V. Straker

Department of Geography, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 JSS, UK

The Holocene development of the coastal system at Porlock has been driven by variations in the rate of relative sea-level rise providing a long-term control on longshore sediment supply, which in turn has controlled gravel barrier beach dynamics. Relative sea-level rise rates of between approximately 8.5 mm yr-1 and 2.0 mm yr-1 define a critical range which allowed gravel barrier consolidation and back-barrier alder carr formation between c. 8500 to 6000 cal. yrs BP. A marked deceleration in rise rates around 7500 to 7000 cal. yrs BP caused a reduction in coarse clastic sediment supply, forcing the barrier into the breakdown domain, enhancing its vulnerability to storm events. Back-barrier sedimentation since c. 6000 cal. yrs BP has been exclusively inorganic, and probably included an important catchment-derived component resulting from anthropogenic disturbances.

Key Words: Sea-level rise and rate • sediment supply • gravel barrier dynamics • human impacts • pollen • diatoms • Holocene

The Holocene, Vol. 8, No. 2, 165-181 (1998)
DOI: 10.1191/095968398667901806
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