The evolution of Holocene Transgression in Drini Bay. Northewstern Albania

Year 2018, Volume: 13 Issue: 1, 33 - 40, 30.03.2018

Sokol Marku Eleni Gjani

Abstract

This paper presents for the first time data regarding the evolution of
Drini Bay (Adriatic Sea) coastal plain since LGM (20 Ka BP). This area is very poorly studied by both
Albanian and foreign researchers. A database
including data from 200 borehole logs performed during different field
campaigns undertaken in this area since 1953 was created with the purpose to
determine the lowest sea level reached during LGM. The field observation helped
us to evidence the presence of sea level indicators on the slopes of the carbonate
hills surrounding the coastal plain. Two indicators represented by “wave cuts”
or “tidal notched” were distinguished. The first one at an altitude 30-40 m,
which probably belongs to the higher sea level reached during MIS5.5 and a
second one, at an altitude of 9-10 m, which probably belongs to the Maximum
Flooding Surface of the last transgression. 
The position of MIS5.5 sea level indicator suggests that the area was
under the conditions of a tectonic uplift. Based on data at our disposal, we
have calculated that the contribute of glacio-isostatic and hydro-isostatic
components in this area during last 20 ka varies between 1.05 and 1.35 mm y^-1.

Keywords

Drini Bay, coastal plain, MIS5.5, LGM, MFS

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