THE HOLOCENE ALONG THE COAST OF HAINAN ISLAND, CHINA

Key words: 
• Hainan Island /
• coast zone /
• Holocene

Abstract: Based on the new data of the Quaternary along the coast of Hainan Island, China, this paper puts forward that the Holocene in Hainan Island can be divided into four formations: Wanning formation (Q₄¹), Sanya formation (Q₄^2-1), Qiongshan formation (Q₄^2-2) and Ledong formation (Q₄³). Spore-pollen analysis shows that there are 6 spore-pollen zones existed, reflecting two cycles of climatic fluctuation from warm-dry to hot-humid. The climax of hot-humid period occurred 6,000-5,000 years B.P.. Based on the ¹⁴C dating data of the 38 samples representing the positions of ancient sea level, a breakthrough curve representing the sea level change during the Holocone is obtained, in which , a sea level change caused by tectonic movement is subtracted. Two cycles of rise-drop of sea level with three periods of high sea level were found. The period with the highest sea level is some 6,000-5,000 years B.P.. According to the rise-drop rate of sea level, four periods of the sea level change can be distinguished in the Holocene. The amplitude of the sea flunctuation is about ±6m over the past 6,000 years.