《Sea-level rise》.pdf

Sedimentology (2012) 59, 1677–1694 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3091.2012.01321.x Sea-level rise, depth-dependent carbonate sedimentation and the paradox of drowned platforms , , WONSUCK KIM* , BRUCE W. FOUKE , ANDREW L. PETTER*, TERRENCE M. QUINN* , CHARLES KERANS* and FRED TAYLOR *Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas, 1 University Station, C9000, Austin, TX 78712, USA (E-mail: delta@jsg.utexas.edu) Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas, 10100 Burnet Road, R2200, Austin, TX 78758, USA Department of Geology, University of Illinois, 1301 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA Associate Editor – John Reijmer ABSTRACT A mathematical model of carbonate platform evolution is presented in which depth-dependent carbonate growth rates determine platform-top accumulation patterns in response to rising relative sea-level. This model predicts that carbonate platform evolution is controlled primarily by the water depth and sediment accumulation rate conditions at the onset of relative sea-level rise. The long-standing ‘paradox of a drowned platform’ arose from the observation that maximum growth rate potentials of healthy platforms are faster than those of relative sea-level rise. The model presented here demonstrates that a carbonate platform could be drowned during a constant relative sea-level rise whose rate remains less than the maximum carbonate production potential. This scenario does not require environmental changes, such as increases in nutrient supply or siliciclastic sedimentation, to have taken place. A rate of r