Environmental evidence of Valencia lagoon coastal barrier stabilization from 8500 BP to Present. Climate and eustatic variations

The Albufera de Valencia is one of the largest lagoon in the Spanish Mediterranean. Two continuous borehole cores reaching depths of 8 and 14 m in the northern part of the lagoon underwent sedimentological, micropaleontological and biological study. The organic content was also analysed, and 14C radiometric dating and amino acid racemization were performed. Study of the content of benthic foraminifera and n-alkanes and alkanoic acids in the lagoon sedimentary record identified several periods. The core records showed seven different environments: alluvial; freshwater marsh; brackish marsh; brackish lagoon; brackish lagoon with marine connection, backbarrier flat, and backshore. These environments changed due to eight phases associated with the transgression and regression of the barrier system, which caused the shift from exposed environments as the backshore with washover, to the typical low-energy lagoon and marsh deposition. The paleoenvironmental evolution described above is interpreted as a response to global climate changes. The shift from an alluvial setting to a brackish lagoon is probably related to the late of Early Holocene sea level rise ending at the Holocene Climate Optimum, when the highest sea level was reached. The persistence of the brackish lagoon, with no marine connection, is probably synchronous with dry conditions in the area (Booth et al., 2005) at the time of Bond event 3 (i.e., 4.2 ka) in the North Atlantic region (Bond et al., 2001). Finally, the arrival of large amounts of sediment triggered the accretion of the barrier, also enhancing coastal progradation until the present day. These results allow an evaluation of the impact of anthropic action on the Valencia lagoon, especially since the eighteenth century, and a short- and medium-term projection of the consequences of present-day climate change. [Display omitted] •Several phases indicate the evolution of the Holocene paleoenvironment in the Valencia lagoon.•In this area the Holocene record is determined by eustatic and climatic changes.•The lagoon was isolated from the sea during the Bond cold events (4.2 and 2.8 ka).•The current eustatic rise invaded this area at least 5300 years ago.