Late Quaternary coastal instability and sea level changes: new evidences from Saurashtra coast, western India

Signatures of late Quaternary coastal tectonics vis-a-vis sea level changes (land-sea interactions) are well recorded along the cliffy coast of Saurashtra, Western India. We have attempted here to decouple tectonics from sea level changes. A succession of raised terraces and wave-cut notches have resulted from changes in sea level whereas tectonogenic features are represented by steep vertical cliff faces, distorted morphology of wave-cut notches and staircase platforms. These features are intrinsicially related to fracture lineaments which are in keeping with the general structural setup of the coast. The coastal landform has evolved essentially as a result of late Quaternary tectonics. The last interglacial high sea stand has been estimated at 7m MSL whereas Holocene high sea stand has been masked by neotectonics. -Authors