Jon Hill

Over the past 10,000 years the UK has seen dramatic changes to its coastline due to sea-level rise. Past changes in sea level can be estimated from analysis of sedimentary deposits, including any microfossil assemblages found within. Once dated and the elevation is know, these data become sea level index points (SLIPs). In recreating past sea level in this way there is an implicit assumption of no change to the tidal regime, despite the fact we know this not to be true. Here, I present modelling simulations of the tides of the UK for the past 10,000 years based on current estimates of palaeoshorelines and bathymetry. I validate the tidal model on modern tidal gauges using the 0 m contour as a shoreline as well as modern shoreline data, before using the same model to create 30 day tidal simulations at 1,000 year intervals. This palaeotidal atlas can be used to estimate both maximum tidal heights and tidal range which in turn could be used to correct SLIPs. The results are consistent with previous estimates, despite differences in estimated palaeobathymetry, boundary conditions and numerical technology used. The tidal maps published will have a wide range of uses across Quaternary science.