Title of the dataset:
Shallow stratigraphic and subsidence data for the Mississippi Delta obtained by hand coring and luminescence dating, 2013-2015 CE

Creators:
Elizabeth L. Chamberlain (liz.chamberlain@wur.nl)

Contributors:
Elizabeth L. Chamberlain (liz.chamberlain@wur.nl)
Zhixiong Shen (zshen@coastal.edu)
Torbjorn E. Tornqvist (tor@tulane.edu)
Wonsuck Kim (delta@yonsei.ac.kr)
Samantha McKinley (samantha.mckinley89@gmail.com)
Sage Anderson (smander@coastal.edu)

Related publication:
Chamberlain, E.L., Shen, Z., Kim, W., Törnqvist, T.E., McKinley, S., & Anderson, S. Does load-induced shallow subsidence inhibit delta growth? In prep for Journal of Geophysical Research - Earth Surface”. Estimated submission date: March, 2021.

Description:
This is the supporting dataset for “Chamberlain, E.L., Shen, Z., Kim, W., Törnqvist, T.E., McKinley, S., & Anderson, S. Does load-induced shallow subsidence inhibit delta growth? In prep for Journal of Geophysical Research - Earth Surface”. Estimated submission date: March, 2021.
The dataset includes stratigraphic information for boreholes of ten cross sections that were hand drilled from 2013-2015 CE in the bayhead region of the Lafourche subdelta, Mississippi Delta, USA. The study area spans ~6000 km2 and the cross sections are located near distributary channels. Data herein describe the location, surface elevation, and depth of each borehole as well as the depth relative to the surface of the mouth-bar to overbank (M-O) boundary and OSL ages for the mouth-bar deposits.
We used these data to estimate centennial- to millennial-timescale cumulative subsidence and subsidence rates of a buried stratigraphic horizon, the M-O boundary, as detailed in the associated publication. Subsidence calculation methods are presented in the dataset, and subsidence data obtained from peat-top elevations at a relatively inland site (Paincourtville, LA, USA) are presented for comparison.

Keywords:
Delta
Holocene
Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating
Stratigraphy
Subsidence

Spatial coverage:
The broader study area includes the ~6,000 km bayhead region of the Lafourche subdelta, formed through progradatio into open water. The sample sites include 10 distributary channel-proximal transects that range in length from ~ 01 - 4.5 km. 

Temporal coverage:
Average subsidence rates and cumulative subsidence are calculated over 1.6-0.7 ka, that is, the OSL age of the targetted deposits. 

This dataset contains the following files:
JGR-ES_Chamberlain et al_Supporting Data.xlxs

Explanation of variables:
E1: Present day elevation of the mouth bar to overbank stratigraphic boundary
E0: Elevation at which the mouth bar to overbank stratigraphic boundary formed relative to coeval sea level
ΔRSL: Change in mean sea level since formation of the mouth bar to overbank stratigraphic boundary
ΔT: Time since mouth bar formation, obtained from OSL dating
ΔE: Cumulative subsidence
S: Subsidence rate

Methods, materials and software:
Hand coring and optically stimulated luminescence dating were used to obtain data. Cumulative subsidence and subsidence rate were calculated in excel. 

This dataset is published under the CC BY (Attribution) license.
This license allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator.

