Reef development at high-latitudes during multiple interglacial cycles: New evidence from Lord Howe Island, southwestern Pacific

Abstract

Reef development during past Interglacial periods, when sea level and sea surface temperatures were higher than today, provide unique insights into how reef systems may respond to projected human-induced global wanning. Lord Howe Island currently represents the southernmost limit of reef development in the Pacific. Reef growth of Pleistocene age has been inferred to have occurred around the island, and this paper provides the first detailed descriptions on the character of this development. Two phases of reef growth are identified, which occurred as isolated fringing reefs along the edge of the basaltic hills of the island. Uranium-series dating indicates that the upper part of the sequence ..