evidence that lasting MSL drops could not ever have occurred below +0.7 m 

 throughout this time. The highest sea-level peak (about +1.0 m) seems to have 

 been reached between 2000 and 1500 year BP. Since 1500 year BP MSL has been 

 dropping gradually from about 1.0 m to the present position, which has been 

 reached only recently. Some islands show however a slightly different 

 pattern. Possible geodynamic, isostatic, oceanic and climatic causes of the 

 sea-level variations observed are discussed. (Authors) . 



271 PIRAZZOLI, P. A., MONTAGGIONI. L. F., THOMMERET, J. & Y. , and LABOREL, 

 J. 1985. "Late Holocene Crustal Movements in Rhodes Island, Greece, as 

 Inferred from Shoreline Displacements," Journal of Petroleum Technology . 

 Vol 17, No. 5, pp 589-593. 



A systematic survey of the recent shorelines along the east coast of the 

 island of Rhodes enabled us to identify eight small blocks of lithosphere (5 

 to 20 km long), each having a different tectonic behavior. Each block bears 

 the marks of from 1 to 8 emerged shorelines; traces of recent submergence are 

 also found. Some of these shorelines have been dated by either '''C or by 

 archaeological criteria. For at least three, petrologic analysis indicates 

 the existence of the sequence: emergence -submergence -new emergence. 



Blocks also show the effects of uplifting, sinking and tilting often 

 independent of neighboring blocks. Over the last 4500 years, the east coast 

 of Rhodes shows a tendency for upheaval which begins in the south and 

 progressively grows northward where it eventually attains mean rates 1 . mm 

 per year. The direction of recent movements agrees well with long-term 



neotectonic trends. However, for the last 4500 years, emergence velocity has 

 clearly surpassed those which prevailed since the Plio-Pleistocene and the 

 Tyearrhenian. (Authors) . 



272 PIRAZZOLI, P. A., MONTAGGIONI, L. F., VERGNAUD-GRAZZINI , C. and SALIEGE, 

 J. F. 1987. "Late Holocene Sea-Levels and Coral Reef Development in Vahitahi 

 Atoll, Eastern Tuamotu Islands, Pacific Ocean," Marine Geology . Vol 76, 

 No. 1987, pp 105-116. 



Preliminary quantitative data are provided on the latest stage of 

 development and morphological evolution of the closed atoll Vahitahi, in the 

 eastern Tuamotus. 



From before 4300 to at least 2400 years B.P. sea-level was at least 0.7 

 m higher than at present. During this time the development of a flat reef 

 pavement, now slightly emerged, gradually separated the lagoon from the ocean. 

 At about 1200 years. B.P. the water level of the lagoon, already closed, was 

 still slightly above the present level. 



The response of the reef was a rapid upward accretion until about 3000 

 years. B.P., then an oceanward development at rates averaging from 0.04 to 

 0.13 m year "' . (Authors). 



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