Constraints on sea-level rise during meltwater pulse 1B from the Great Barrier Reef

The timing, rate, and magnitude of rapid sea-level rise during Meltwater Pulse 1B (MWP-1B, ~11.45-11.1 ka) remain controversial. Robust constraints on past MWPs are crucial to future predictions of global ice sheet instability. Using 154 new and existing U/Th and calibrated <sup>14</sup>C-AMS dates from coral, algae, and microbialites recovered during Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 325, this study reconstructs reef development and relative sea-level (RSL) rise on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). We identify 107 in situ RSL index points while refining estimates of vertical accretion and paleowater depth. Results show RSL rise during MWP-1B did not exceed 10.2-7.7 m or rates of 30-23 mm/yr, and was likely less. The GBR did not drown, indicating resilience to MWP-1B. These findings are more consistent with Tahiti and other Pacific records and do not support the Barbados record of MWP-1B as an abrupt step in global sea level, with a magnitude > 11 m.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2025-06-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59858-0
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.60

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Constraints on sea-level rise during meltwater pulse 1B from the Great Barrier Reef

Juan C. Braga, Édouard Bard, Stewart Fallon, Yūsuke Yokoyama et al.
2 citations
Nature Communications
Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
2.60
article

Constraints on sea-level rise during meltwater pulse 1B from the Great Barrier Reef

Juan C. Braga, Édouard Bard, Stewart Fallon, Yūsuke Yokoyama, Jody Michael Webster, T. M. Esat, Marc Humblet
article en
2 citations

Abstract

The timing, rate, and magnitude of rapid sea-level rise during Meltwater Pulse 1B (MWP-1B, ~11.45-11.1 ka) remain controversial. Robust constraints on past MWPs are crucial to future predictions of global ice sheet instability. Using 154 new and existing U/Th and calibrated <sup>14</sup>C-AMS dates from coral, algae, and microbialites recovered during Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 325, this study reconstructs reef development and relative sea-level (RSL) rise on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). We identify 107 in situ RSL index points while refining estimates of vertical accretion and paleowater depth. Results show RSL rise during MWP-1B did not exceed 10.2-7.7 m or rates of 30-23 mm/yr, and was likely less. The GBR did not drown, indicating resilience to MWP-1B. These findings are more consistent with Tahiti and other Pacific records and do not support the Barbados record of MWP-1B as an abrupt step in global sea level, with a magnitude > 11 m.

Nature CommunicationsVol. 16(1)
Australian National University (AU), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), The University of Sydney (AU), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JP), Universidad de Granada (ES), Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR), Centre de Recherche et d’Enseignement de Géosciences de l’Environnement (FR), Sphere Institute (US), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR), Nagoya University (JP), The University of Tokyo (JP)
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 11%
Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
2.60
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.