ABSTRACT Interpretation of sea-level indicators is essential when studying paleo sea-level fluctuations during the Holocene. Sea-level indicators may have different origins, such as geological (beachrocks) and biological (vermetids and barnacles). In order to reconstruct paleo sea-level, it is necessary to attribute an indicative meaning to each sea-level indicator. This paper aims to discuss issues raised by Angulo et al. (2016) regarding to the sea-level fluctuations curve proposed by Castro et al. (2014) to the Rio de Janeiro State coast, Brazilian southeast. The key issue that deserves posing is that local or regional curves cannot be built based on large scale (global) RSL geophysical models even in places of steady crust like Brazil. Here, we put into question the relative sea-level fluctuation curve model proposed by Angulo et al. (2006, 2016) to the coast of Rio de Janeiro State and Pernambuco State. It is strengthened the proposal of using different origins indicators on RSL vertical variation, georeferenced by high precision altitude GPS, adjusted by Brazilian Geodetic System benchmarks, maintained by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics - IBGE. All issues regarding the curve drawn by Castro et al. (2014) are answered based on field data, laboratory analytical techniques, radiocarbon dating as well as relevant literature.

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo investigar as variações do nível relativo do mar e a evolução costeira durante o Holoceno no litoral do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, com base em indicadores geológicos e biológicos. Realizou-se levantamento altimétrico, execução de sondagens e datações ao 14C na planície costeira e em afloramentos de rochas de praia. A partir dos dados obtidos, construiu-se uma curva do nível relativo do mar para o Holoceno. Pela primeira vez na costa brasileira foi identificado um recorde negativo do nível relativo do mar, envolvendo a transição final do Pleistoceno e início do Holoceno. Após a transição, iniciou-se um processo relativamente rápido de subida do nível do mar. Há aproximadamente 8.500 anos cal A.P., o nível marinho, encontrava-se a - 0.5 m abaixo do nível atual. O “zero” (nível médio atual) foi ultrapassado pela primeira vez no Holoceno há cerca de 7.500 anos A.P. Entre 5.500 - 4.500 cal anos A.P, o nível relativo do mar atingiu o primeiro máximo holocênico com altura máxima de +2.50 m acima do atual. A descida do nível relativo do mar subseqüente ao máximo transgressivo, levou à construção de terraços marinhos, resultando na progradação da linha de costa até o presente. A maioria dos resultados corroboram dados já obtidos em outros segmentos da costa atlântica da América do Sul. Resultados aqui apresentados são consistentes com pesquisas anteriores e ajudam refinar o registro do nível relativo do mar Holoceno na costa brasileira.

The present paper aims to investigate the relative sea-level and the coastal evolution during the Holocene in the Rio de Janeiro coastline, based on geological and biological indicators. Using topographic survey, excavation and coring, and 14C dating of these coastal deposits and beachrocks outcrops, we have reconstructed a sea-level curve for the Holocene. For the first time on the Brazilian coast it was identified a negative record of relative sea-level during Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene transition. After the transition, a relatively rapid increase of sea-level began. At approximately at 8500 cal yr BP, the sea-level was 0.5 m below the current level, was overtaken for the first time in the Holocene, at approximately 7500 cal yr BP. The maximum level of +2.5 m was reached between 4770 and 4490 cal yr BP. At the point of maximum transgression, the sea-level began a general behavior of lowering until the present. These results confirm other data already obtained elsewhere along the Atlantic coast of South America. The results of this study are consistent with previous researches and they help to refine the Holocene sea-level record along the Brazilian coast.