373 YIJIAN, C, GUI, P., and WENGIANG. 1985. "Radiocarbon Dates from the 

 East China Sea and Their Geological Implications," Quaternary Research . 

 Vol 24, pp 197-203. 



Radiocarbon analysis plays an important role in studying the Quaternary 

 geologic history of the East China Sea. More than 200 '''C dates have been 

 published in various Chinese publications. The continental shelf of the East 

 China Sea is one of the few large continental shelves in the world. Many low- 

 lying flats and deltaic plains lie along the coast making it a favorable site 

 for sea- level studies. Radiocarbon data from Neolithic sites, chenier ram- 

 parts, peaty deposits and submarine sediments converge to suggest that oscil- 

 lations of sea-level have occurred; they also suggest that the lowest glacial 

 sea- levels probably occurred between 22,000 and 19,000 yr B.P. Calculation of 

 the volume of the Yangtze River Delta, together with ""C dates, indicates that 

 more than 89% of the solid particles carried by the river were deposited in 

 the delta. Due to the sedimentary load, the crust beneath the delta has sub- 

 sided isostatically and tilted seaward. Marine shells provide many acceptable 

 '•"C dates, but because they are easily transported, most samples from the con- 

 tinental shelf cannot be directly related to the history of sea-level changes. 

 (Authors) . 



374 YONEKURA, N. , and OTA, Y. 1986. "Sea-Level Changes and Tectonics in 

 the Late Quaternary," Recent Progress of Natural Sciences in Japan . Vol II, 

 pp 17-35. 



This paper summarizes recent studies on sea- level changes during the 

 late Quaternary and the effects of plate tectonics on former shorelines. A 

 chronology of Quaternary strata, geomorphic surfaces, a sea- level curve in 

 South Kanto , and comparison of major sea-level changes is presented. The ages 

 of coral reef terraces by Konishi et. al . (1974 and 1978) indicates 5 distinct 

 sea- levels. These dates indicate that the coral reef terrace of Kikal Island 

 formed at relatively high sea- levels have been uplifted at a high rate of 

 about 1.5 to 2 m per thousand years. 



Most of the Holocene sea- level curves in the mainlands of Japan 

 including Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu are characterized by a higher 

 sea-level at 6,000 to 5,000 years BP , which is a culmination of the Post- 

 glacial rapid rise in sea-level. Since then, the sea-level has been rather 

 stable and has lowered to the present level with minor fluctuations. 



It is suggested that the coastal region of Japan has been uplifted and 

 deformed at accelerated rates during the late Quaternary. The nature and rate 

 of the vertical crustal deformation deduced from former shoreline data were 

 comparatively discussed among the coastal regions in and around the Pacific. 

 (Authors) . 



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