Holocene cheniers: spatial and temporal distribution and sea level indicators in Bohai Bay

Based on studies of the Holocene cheniers on the Chiner Plain along the west coast of Bohai Bay, this paper has reexamined the bottom morphology of cheniers and found that the bottom usually inclines seaward with average vertical difference of 1m between front-foot and rear-base, as evidenced by leveling measurements at various sites. Both fore-base and rear-base were developed within the vertical range of the contemporaneous mean high tides. Thus, the indicative range of the bottom is defined by either actually measured value or 1m complement. Further complement to ±1.5m is needed if the bottom should correspond to the vertical range of mean high tides. With reexamination of 96 14C data, each period of the chenier trends is determined, and the Ⅱ-1 and Ⅱ-2 as two branches of the Chnier Ⅱ as well as the Sui-Tang (S-T) Chenier are reconfirmed. The Chenier Ⅰcan be also subdivided into two branches as Ⅰ-1 andⅠ-2. The storm-surge transportation responsible for the time-reversal phenomenon that middle part was older than the lower part in the ChenierⅠhas been revealed. Consequently, the temporal and spatial distribution of cheniers is improved in this paper. This research provides a basis for reconstructing the local Holocene relative sea level curve and approaching its relationship with climate changes in the Chenier Plain.