Differential uplift of late Pleistocene Marine Terraces at the western and eastern coasts of the Laconic Peninsula, SE Greece

This study investigates the uplifted marine terraces along the western and eastern coasts of the Laconic Peninsula in an attempt to reconstruct the region’s Late Pleistocene tectonic and geomorphological history. Using high-resolution topography, GIS analysis and extensive field surveys, the research mapped and characterized sequences of marine terraces in three distinct sectors. The analysis identified a sequence of eight terraces in Sector A and six in Sector B on the western coast, with five lower-elevation terraces in Sector C on the eastern coast. The marked difference in terrace elevation and number between the adjacent Sectors A (higher) and B (lower) is attributed to differential uplift caused by the active Molai graben. By correlating the lowest terrace in Sector B (at 9–10 m a.s.l.) with the MIS 5a terrace in the adjacent Punta area based on a previous study, a long-term average uplift rate of 0.36 ± 0.11 mm a⁻¹ over the past 215 ± 5.5 ka is established for Sector B. Assuming this constant rate, the research tentatively correlated the higher terraces in Sector B with successive Quaternary highstands: MIS 5c (Terrace B, 15–21 m a.s.l.), MIS 7a (Terrace D, 55–65 m a.s.l.), and MIS 7c (Terrace E, 80–90 m a.s.l.). These correlations are consistent with predicted elevations derived from global sea-level curves. The results confirm that the regional coastal uplift is driven by the overall proximity to the Hellenic Subduction Zone, while local variations are controlled by active normal faulting.