Abstract
A descriptive analysis of surficial sediments of Crane Key (Florida Bay) showed that the sediments consist of storm layers (winter storm and hurricane deposits) and algal laminated sediments. Storm layers are riddled with the following types of cavities: gas escape vugs; dissolution vugs; burrows; rootholes and cryptalgal vugs. Structures and sediment types are arranged into a 15 cm thick thickening-upward, storm-generated sequence which formed in approximately 100 yr under a deepening trend. Periodograms of sea-level variations match the frequency distribution of strong intensity storms which occurred in south Florida since the beginning of this century. The calculated recurrence time of strong storms ( 10±3 yr ) and the time interval of formation of the sequence ( 100±25 yr ) are probably a response of climatic parameters to short-period (11-yr) and longer-period (90–110 yr) cycles of solar activity. Comparison with the ancient record shows analogous dm-thick storm-generated sequences probably linked to solar cycles and 10 2 yr sea-level rises.
Published Version
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