The role of beach ridges, spits, or barriers in understanding marine terraces processes on loose or semiconsolidated substrates: Insights from the givoni of the Gulf of Taranto (southern Italy)

• DOI: 10.1002/gj.3550
• Publication Date: 2019-07-05T13:37:00Z
• Authors: Vincenzo De Santis; Massimo Caldara; Trinidad Torres; José E. Ortiz; Yolanda Sánchez‐P...
• Keywords: Landform; Swash; Terrace (agriculture)

This paper presents a detailed geological and geomorphological analysis of the so‐called givoni (low‐relief, mainly gravelly landforms subparallel to coastline) associated with MIS 5 terrace in northern Gulf Taranto (southern Italy). These can be interpreted as former beach ridges, swash/drift‐aligned spits, or barriers (BSBs); thus, are palaeoshoreline indicators. In study area, recognizing classic marine terraces, that is, surfaces scarps, is difficult, often variably combined scarps. Thus, we reconstruct formation evolution processes terrace, including surfaces, BSBs (and resulting composite landforms), an overall evolutionary framework based on eustatic oscillations. Then, complete set situations which form loose semiconsolidated substrates response oscillations: (a) during highstand warm stage previously consolidated sediment; (b) may represent coastlines formed sea‐level standstills context general regressive phase following peak created relict sea cliff; (c) new relative substage unconsolidated deposits same stage; (d) by process similar previous case, except level stopped rising against pre‐existing BSB.