Late Quaternary relative sea-level changes and vertical movements at Lipari (Aeolian Islands)

Indicators of former sea-levels are recognised on the emergent portion of Lipari, Aeolian Islands. They correlate with three raised shorelines, located at elevations of 43-45 m above present sea-level (1), 23-27 m (11) and about 12 m (111). According to stratigraphical constraints, these shorelines correlate with the sea-level highstands corresponding to marine oxygen isotope substages 5e (124 ka), 5c (100 ka) and 5a (81 ka), respectively. The correlation of the shoreline I with substage 5e is supported by a U/Th age (119 +/- 6 ka) obtained from corals. Chronological and height data relevant to the fossil shorelines indicate that Lipari was affected by uplift with an average rate of 0.34 mm yr(-1) during the past 125 ka. This uplift rate accords with the average uplift rates obtained, during the same time period, from the nearby islands of Filicudi (0.31 mm yr(-1)) and Salina (0.36 mm yr(-1)). Combined, these data suggest a similar uplift trend related to regional tectonic processes. In contrast to the long-term uplift, a localised submergence trend, documented especially for the last century, affects the eastern coast of Lipari. This subsidence is related to neo- and/or volcano-tectonic processes. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.