Thorium-230 Ages of Corals and Duration of the Last Interglacial Sea-Level High Stand on Oahu, Hawaii

Authors

• Barney J. Szabo, U.S. Geological Survey
• Kenneth R. Ludwig, U.S. Geological Survey
• Daniel R. Muhs, U.S. Geological SurveyFollow
• Kathleen R. Simmons, U.S. Geological SurveyFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

1994

Comments

Published in SCIENCE VOL. 266, 7 OCTOBER 1994.

Abstract

Thorium-230 ages of emergent marine deposits on Oahu, Hawaii, have a uniform dis- tribution of ages from ~114,000 to ~131,000 years, indicating a duration for the last interglacial sea-level high stand of ~17,000 years, in contrast to a duration of ~8000 years inferred from the orbitally tuned marine oxygen isotope record. Sea level on Oahu rose to ≥1 to 2 meters higher than present by 131,000 years ago or ~6000 years earlier than inferred from the marine record. Although the latter record suggests a shift back to glacial conditions beginning at ~119,000 years ago, the Oahu coral ages indicate a near present sea level until ~114,000 years ago.