Paleo-coastline of the Central Eastern Adriatic Sea, and Paleo-Channels of the Cetina and Neretva rivers during the last glacial maximum

Abstract

       The paper documents the use of a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) method to reconstruct paleochannels and the paleo-coastline during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) in the Central Eastern Adriatic area. We focused on the paleo-coastline and paleo-channels of the Neretva and the Cetina rivers, which were estimated from the 15’’ bathymetry available for the Adriatic Sea. While being aware of the limitations of the method and the resolution of the bathymetry grid, we successfully reproduced the paleo-channels of both rivers. Results for the Cetina River indicate the presence of depressions that were filled with water along its flow. The configurations of existing seabeds in the vicinity of the Cetina and Neretva River mouths indicate morphologies, similar to river mouths. The vertical profiles suggest that during the LGM the sea level was about 115 m lower than today. The total length of the Neretva riverbed was longer for about 136 km than today, and the Cetina River was approximately 154 km longer.