Late Glacial to Holocene coastal changes of SE Rügen Island (Baltic Sea, NE Germany)

Abstract.

The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term coastal evolution of Mönchgut peninsula (Rügen Island) on the non-tidal SW Baltic Sea coast. The geological setting of the barriers was determined by coring Late Pleistocene to Holocene deposits. The sediment succession starts with a Late Glacial till overlain by Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene sandy freshwater deposits of fluvial origin. There is no evidence that any early evolutionary stages of the Baltic Sea (i.e. Baltic Ice Lake, Ancylus Lake) reached the study area. In the Boreal, the landscape was characterized by W-E striking channels, interpreted as valleys of a river system. These valleys are up to 15 m deep. The Littorina transgression inundated the study area in the Early Atlantic. Our work indicates that the rate of sea-level rise was the most important factor controlling coastal evolution on Rügen Island. The rapid rising water level drowned the coastal area, while during the period of a moderate rise (~1 mm/yr) sediment was transported along the shore to accumulate as beach ridges and wind flats.