Relative sea level changes and development of the Hiiumaa Island during the Holocene

Abstract

Three sediment cores (Loopsoo, Tihu, Prassi) from Hiiumaa Island (Estonia) were investigated using diatoms, lithological proxies, magnetic susceptibility, geochronological dates and incorporated with the previously studied Kõivasoo site, aiming to reconstruct the development of the island and shoreline changes during the Litorina Sea and the Limnea Sea. The highest level of the Litorina Sea shoreline near Kõivasoo is at 27.6 m a.s.l., and it occurred during the Initial Litorina Sea. Within the Litorina Sea transgression, 7800 cal yr BP, relative sea level reached 24.9 m a.s.l. at Kõivasoo, 24.1 m a.s.l. at Loopsoo, 23.6 m a.s.l. at Tihu, and 21.5 m a.s.l. at Prassi. Kõivasoo became isolated from the sea about 8500 cal yr BP, Loopsoo between 7100 and 6800 cal yr BP, Tihu around 4800 cal yr BP, and Prassi about 2500 cal yr BP. Presently gained data from Hiiumaa Island confirm that the Litorina Sea regressed consistently during the last 8000 years due to progressively declining isostatic rebound. The present study is also illustrated by 3-dimensional palaeogeographic maps of the Hiiumaa Island development.