Embedded Files
November 2026 | A new paper just out of the oven in Geological Society of America Bulletin!
In this paper we show that siliciclastic-dominated environments are considered inhospitable for reefs. Yet through glacial cycles, these localities may undergo periods of sediment starvation, which opens the environment for biogenic buildups. The Levant shelf is such an environment, indirectly receiving sediment from the Nile delta.Here, using high-resolution seismic data and targeted coring, a previously unknown, mostly buried, reef system at the edge of the Levant shelf is presented. This reef system, about a kilometer in width, spans most of the Levant shelf with a range of morphologies from mounded to flat top. It represents a lull in the sediment supply to the Levant shelf in the aftermath of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The reef system developed atop an abrasion surface related to the LGM and persisted for several thousand years, during which it transitioned from the euphotic zone to the mesophotic zone.Termination of the reef phase around 8 Ka coincided with renewal and intensification of sediment supply during the African Humid Period and SapropelS1. The input of nutrients and sediment during these phases are considered here the kill mechanism. This suite of biogenic build-ups represents a prime example of the mode exchange between siliciclastic and carbonate systems.
Core DMG15HZ14B, CT and lithological description, physical properties, grain size distributions, Carbonate and TOC content; 14C ages and XRF based elemental rations of Sr/Ca (mmol/mol), Si/Al (mol/mol) and Fe/Al (mol/mol).
November 2026 | New paper in Quaternary International!
Sedimentary facies and their representation.
In this new paper we show results from the thesis work of Vishal in Atlit-Yam. During the early Holocene, rapid sea- level rise led to the inundation of coastal areas, with shallow landscapes being the most affected. In order to reconstruct the geomorphological evolution of the submerged coastal landscape, 23 underwater sediment cores of variable length (ranging from 60 to 240 cm) were drilled both inside and outside the known extent of the Atlit-Yam village. A detailed stratigraphy of the submerged landscape was generated based on the analysis of 18 representative cores. The sedimentary sequences identified in the analyzed cores were defined by respective facies associations, and combined with physical (grain size, magnetic susceptibility), chemical (elemental geochemistry), and organic (total organic content) properties of the sediments. Moreover, the sediment cores were constrained by a radiocarbon chronology. Our analysis reveals the spatially heterogeneous stratification of submerged coastal sediments, influenced by sediment supply, stratigraphic dynamics, rising sea level and human activity. This study provides stratigraphic and chronological evidence for sustained Neolithic occupation between ∼9600 and 8600 cal. Yrs BP, prior to the early stages of coastal inundation. These findings demonstrate the advantage of coring and sedimentological analysis for studying early human occupation of coastal areas in direct relations to landscape transformation due to rising sea levels.
May 2026 | Vishal appears on a podcast of the AGU!
In this episode of Geoscientists' Voices, recorded at the EGU 2026 conference in Vienna, Vishal shares his journey from ranking in the top 0.3% of India's elite JEE exams to uncovering Neolithic secrets at Atlit-Yam. We dive into the science of biomarkers - molecular fossils that reveal what ancient humans ate, how they farmed, and how they responded to rising sea levels. Vishal also opens up about his academic journey through math, physics, and environmental science, offering a unique perspective on why the future of geosciences is fundamentally tied to the chemistry of our changing climate.
May 2026 | Nicolas appears on a podcast of the AGU!
In this episode of Geoscientists' Voices, host Aleksei Nelaev returns to his alma mater, the University of Haifa in Israel, to sit down with his former Master's professor and the founder of the PetroLab, Prof. Nicolas Waldmann. We follow his international academic journey through Jerusalem, Geneva, and Norway, exploring the language and cultural barriers he had to break along the way. We dive deep into the technical wonders of his laboratory, discussing how his multi-sensor core logger uses multiple physical and chemical proxies to compile a reliable record of the past. Nicholas explains the fascinating "detective work" of drilling the Dead Sea basin to extract 200,000-year-old salt crystals. By isolating tiny, ancient drops of water trapped inside these crystals, his team reconstructs past lake-level variations, paleoclimate, and even ancient archaea. From the freezing, calm waters near the North Pole to blinding Harmattan dust storms on Lake Chad, Nicolas reminds us of human fragility, the interdisciplinary future of geosciences, and why we must never stop questioning.
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