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NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Seychelles Fossil Coral Data from the Last Interglacial

browse graphicPaleoclimatology - Coral and Sclerosponge
This archived Paleoclimatology Study is available from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), under the World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology. The associated NCEI study type is Coral. The data include parameters of corals and sclerosponges with a geographic location of Seychelles. The time period coverage is from 129000 to 123000 in calendar years before present (BP). See metadata information for parameter and study location details. Please cite this study when using the data.
  • Cite as: Dutton, A.L.; Webster, J.M.; Zwartz, D.; Lambeck, K.; Wohlfarth, B. (2017-09-07): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Seychelles Fossil Coral Data from the Last Interglacial. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/sw8k-9v33. Accessed [date].
  • Please refer to Credit tab for full citation information.
noaa-coral-22643
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DistributorNOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact Data Center Contact
NOAA World Data Service for Paleoclimatology
828-271-4800
paleo@noaa.gov
Coverage DescriptionDate Range: 129000 cal yr BP to 123000 cal yr BP;
Time Period-127050 to -121050
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
N: -4.28454
S: -4.37565
E: 55.84261
W: 55.73107
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • Tropical tales of polar ice: evidence of Last Interglacial polar ice sheet retreat recorded by fossil reefs of the granitic Seychelles islands
    • Associated Reference published 2015
      Dutton, Andrea, Jody M. Webster, Dan Zwartz, Kurt Lambeck, and Barbara Wohlfarth, 2015: Tropical tales of polar ice: evidence of Last Interglacial polar ice sheet retreat recorded by fossil reefs of the granitic Seychelles islands. Quaternary Science Reviews, 107, 182-196, 10.1016/j.quascirev.2014.10.025
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2017-09-07
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress StatusComplete - production of the data has been completed
Data Update Frequency Data update frequency not available
Supplemental Information
STUDY NOTES: Samples collected ~3.5 - 8 meters above mean low water. Site elevations have a measurement precision of 0.2 m. Provided Keywords: sea level, U-Th, MIS 5e, coral, Seychelles
ABSTRACT SUPPLIED BY ORIGINATOR: In the search for a record of eustatic sea level change on glacial–interglacial timescales, the Seychelles ranks as one of the best places on the planet to study. Owing to its location with respect to the former margins of Northern Hemisphere ice sheets that wax and wane on orbital cycles, the local—or relative—sea level history is predicted to lie within a few meters of the globally averaged eustatic signal during the Last Interglacial period. We have surveyed and dated Last Interglacial fossil corals to ascertain peak sea level and hence infer maximum retreat of polar ice sheets during this time interval. We observe a pattern of gradually rising sea level in the Seychelles between ~129 and 125 thousand years ago (ka), with peak eustatic sea level attained after 125 ka at 7.6 ± 1.7 m higher than present. After accounting for thermal expansion and loss of mountain glaciers, this sea-level budget would require ~5–8 m of polar ice sheet contribution, relative to today's volume, of which only ~2 m came from the Greenland ice sheet. This result clearly identifies the Antarctic ice sheet as a significant source of melt water, most likely derived from one of the unstable, marine-based sectors in the West and/or East Antarctic ice sheet. Furthermore, the establishment of a +5.9 ± 1.7 m eustatic sea level position by 128.6 ± 0.8 ka would require that partial AIS collapse was coincident with the onset of the sea level highstand.
PurposeRecords of past climate and ocean environment derived from stable isotope, trace metal, and other measurements made on corals and sclerosponges. Parameter keywords describe what was measured in this dataset. Additional summary information can be found in the abstracts of papers listed in the dataset citations.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Dutton, A.L.; Webster, J.M.; Zwartz, D.; Lambeck, K.; Wohlfarth, B. (2017-09-07): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Seychelles Fossil Coral Data from the Last Interglacial. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/sw8k-9v33. Accessed [date].
  • Please cite original publication, online resource, dataset and publication DOIs (where available), and date accessed when using downloaded data. If there is no publication information, please cite investigator, title, online resource, and date accessed. The appearance of external links associated with a dataset does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of external Web sites or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities, the Department of Commerce/NOAA does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. These links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this Department of Commerce/NOAA Web site.
Cited Authors
  • Dutton, A.L.
  • Webster, J.M.
  • Zwartz, D.
  • Lambeck, K.
  • Wohlfarth, B.
Originators
  • Dutton, A.L.
  • Webster, J.M.
  • Zwartz, D.
  • Lambeck, K.
  • Wohlfarth, B.
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Theme keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Climate Indicators > Paleoclimate Indicators > Biological Records > Coral Deposits
  • Earth Science > Climate Indicators > Paleoclimate Indicators > Ocean/Lake Records > Coral Deposits
  • Earth Science > Paleoclimate > Ocean/Lake Records > Coral Deposits
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges > age control
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges > chemistry
  • earth science > paleoclimate > corals and sclerosponges > physical properties
  • Sea Level Reconstruction
Paleoenvironmental Standard Terms (PaST) Thesaurus
  • What: relative sea level; Material: null
  • What: age; Material: null
  • What: age; Material: null
  • What: notes; Material: null
  • What: age; Material: null
  • What: notes; Material: null
  • What: sample identification; Material: null
  • What: International Generic Sample Number; Material: null
  • What: calcite; Material: null
  • What: age; Material: null
  • What: notes; Material: null
Data Center keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Place keywords
  • Ocean > Indian Ocean > Seychelles > La Digue and Curieuse Islands > LATITUDE > LONGITUDE
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Dutton, A.L.; Webster, J.M.; Zwartz, D.; Lambeck, K.; Wohlfarth, B. (2017-09-07): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Seychelles Fossil Coral Data from the Last Interglacial. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/sw8k-9v33. Accessed [date].
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose
  • Please cite original publication, online resource, dataset and publication DOIs (where available), and date accessed when using downloaded data. If there is no publication information, please cite investigator, title, online resource, and date accessed. The appearance of external links associated with a dataset does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of external Web sites or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities, the Department of Commerce/NOAA does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. These links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this Department of Commerce/NOAA Web site.
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
  • None
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Last Modified: 2025-08-28
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