Pleistocene development and facies of southern Belize shelf and barrier reef

对南部伯利兹大陆架和堡礁的六个现有岩心（岩石穿透深度共'527 m）进行沉积学和地层学研究，将大大提高对这一主要礁缘晚第四纪发展的认识。使用相分析和放射性测年，它是为了解释更新世海平面和气候波动的光继承。我希望能识别出更新世礁灰岩的包裹，这些石灰岩在海平面高水位期间积累，被海平面低水位期间形成的陆上暴露面和/或硅质沉积物分开。主要的问题是指更新世前期地形的性质和堡礁形成的开始时间。有迹象表明，主要的堡礁系统，如伯利兹，佛罗里达，或澳大利亚大堡礁是非常年轻的，晚更新世的功能，只有在异常长和温暖的MIS（海洋同位素阶段）11。

A sedimentological and stratigraphical study of six existing cores (total of’527 m rock penetration) from the southern Belize shelf and barrier reef would greatly enhance the understanding of late Quaternary development of this major reefal margin. Using facies analysis and radiometric dating it is intended to interpret the succession in the light of Pleistocene sea-level and climate fluctuations. I expect to identify packages of Pleistocene reef limestones, which accumulated during sea-level highstands, separated by subaerial exposure surfaces and/or siliciclastic deposists that formed during sea-level lowstands. Major questions refer to the nature of the Pleistocene antecedent topography and the timing of the start of barrier reef formation. There are indications that major barrier reef systems such as Belize, Florida, or the Australian Great Barrier Reef are comparably young, late Pleistocene features, initiated only during the exceptionally long and warm MIS (marine isotope stage) 11.