Coupled 230Th/234U-ESR analyses for corals: A new method to assess sealevel change

Although coupled 230Th/234U-ESR analyses have become routine for dating teeth, they have never been used for corals. While the ESR age depends on, and requires assumptions about, the time-averaged cosmic dose rate, over(D, -)cos (t), 230Th/234U dates do not. Since over(D, -)cos (t) received by corals depends on the attenuation by any intervening material, over(D, -)cos (t) response reflects changing water depths and sediment cover. By coupling the two methods, one can determine the age and a unique over(D, -)cos, coupled (t) simultaneously. From a coral's water depth and sedimentary history as predicted by a given sealevel curve, one can predict over(D, -)cos, sealevel (t) . If over(D, -)cos, co