Küstenniveaus

Küstenniveaus, also known as coastal levels or shorelines, refer to the distinct elevations or features along a coastline that indicate past or present sea levels. These levels are often marked by geomorphological features such as wave-cut platforms, raised beaches, or submerged shorelines. Understanding küstenniveaus is crucial for paleogeography, coastal evolution studies, and assessing the impact of sea-level change.

Raised beaches are perhaps the most common indicator of past higher sea levels. These are flat, wave-modified surfaces found inland from the current shoreline, often backed by a sea cliff. They represent former coastlines where wave action eroded the land at a higher sea level, and subsequent land uplift or sea-level fall left them stranded above the present sea. Conversely, submerged shorelines, such as submerged cliffs or wave-cut platforms, indicate past lower sea levels or relative sea-level rise.

The study of küstenniveaus can reveal a history of tectonic activity, such as land uplift or subsidence, as well as eustatic sea-level fluctuations caused by global climate changes, like glacial cycles. Precise dating of sediments or organic material found within these coastal deposits allows scientists to reconstruct past sea-level curves and understand the long-term dynamics of coastlines. Analyzing these features helps in predicting future coastal changes and planning for coastal management and defense strategies.