The formation of raised beaches in southern Finland during the Ancylus and Litorina stages

Abstract

In studies of the shoreline displacement it has generally been accepted that raised beaches were formed during the highest positions of water level during transgressions, before the subsequent regressions, at times when the water level remained long enough (300-1300 years) in the same relative position. There were, however, also similar times for the formation of raised beaches during the relative regressions preceding the transgressions. As a result of this the raised beaches often occur together in pairs, where the older beach of the regression is lower than that of the younger transgression beach. It follows from this new explanation that the former water level fluctuations in the Baltic Sea were fewer than the numerous raised beaches at various altitudes would suggest, as there was only one relative transgression for each pair of raised beaches.

Keywords

• raised beaches
• sea level changes
• transgression
• regression
• uplift
• Litorina Sea
• Ancylus Lake
• Holocene
• southern Finland