Abstract:

 Reconstruction of the late Holocene sealevel changing process is significant for understanding the current situation and the future trend of the present sea level. Leizhou Peninsula located in the northern coast of the South China Sea is an ideal site for studying the Holocene sealevel history because of its tectonic stability and its possession of numerous sealevel indicators. Beach sediment from this site suggests that from 1.712 Cal. ka BP (or 14C ages from 21 to 17 ka BP) it was an overall sea level rising period with a shortterm sealevel dropping punctuation occurred at ~15 Cal. ka BP. The sealevel at 12 Cal. ka BP was at least 128 cm higher than the present one, and then it started to decline some time later, which resulted in the retreat of the coastline by about 210 m and the formation of the present beachsand bank system. Associating with other evidences from coral reefs at this site, we believe that the sea level, just like climate, oscillated at millennial, centennial and interdecadalscale cycles over the Midlate Holocene.

Key words:  sealevel; late Holocene; oscillation; beach sediment; coral reef; South China Sea