Palaeoshorelines and associated palaeo-coastal features are studied to reconstruct past sea level, climate, and depositional environments. Their identification typically depends on direct field observations and is therefore challenging in the marine environment, where the interpretation mostly relies on sparse geophysical data. This review presents, based on 118 published case studies, a summary of morphological evidence that can be used to identify submerged relict coastal features worldwide, using only geophysical data. Four coastal feature categories that can be used as palaeoshoreline indicators were identified: (1) beach ridges of wind and wave origin; (2) shoreface strata; (3) marine terraces; and (4) coral-reef terraces.

In light of this proposed classification, an area of ~200,000 km² was investigated along the Rowley Shelf (North West Shelf, Australia), a carbonate-dominated platform, based on the integration of high-resolution bathymetry (i.e., seismic-derived bathymetry, satellite-derived bathymetry, multibeam echosounder bathymetry, spot depth soundings) and 2D reflection seismic lines. Relict features were discriminated from modern bedforms using five criteria: (1) stratigraphic position; (2) emersion features; (3) similarity with modern and published analogues; (4) integration of modern ocean conditions; and (5) evidence of early cementation. In total, over 500 submerged relict coastal features were identified, making this review the most comprehensive catalogue published to date.

Relict features are concentrated over specific depths, referred to as modal sea-level depths (MSLDs), which correspond to depths where the relative sea level remained stable over long periods of time. Nine MSLDs are observed at 20, 35, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 105 and 125 m below sea level. Each MSLD is the result of the accumulation of coastal features through multiple glacial/ interglacial cycles. Most of the features may nevertheless be related to the last glacial sea-level fall and were likely formed between Marine Isotopes Stages (MIS) 5 and 2.

The analysis of the submerged coastal features indicates that the overall shelf morphology is controlled by the distribution of these features, and that, while in a carbonate province, their formation is related to wind, tide, fluvial and wave processes. The higher concentration of relict fluvial-influenced features at shallower depths and of relict tide-influenced features at greater depths suggest that fluvial runoffs were limited during glacial periods. This, in turn, supports the hypothesis of a prevalent dry climate during glacial periods and in contrast, of a humid climate during interglacial periods. Finally, the study reveals that most modern coral reefs of the Rowley Shelf are growing on top of relict coastal features and that seabed ridges previously interpreted as drowned coral reefs are, in fact, likely to be relict coastal features formed through clastic processes.

Results from this study will support the identification of submerged palaeoshorelines on continental shelves around the globe and highlight the influence of associated relict coastal features on shelf morphologies. Additionally, this study provides new insights on processes shaping carbonate provinces.

研究古海岸线和相关的古海岸特征以重建过去的海平面、气候和沉积环境。它们的识别通常取决于直接的实地观察，因此在海洋环境中具有挑战性，其中的解释主要依赖于稀疏的地球物理数据。本综述基于 118 个已发表的案例研究，总结了形态学证据，可用于仅使用地球物理数据识别世界范围内淹没的残余海岸特征。确定了四个可用作古海岸线指标的海岸特征类别：（1）风浪起源的海滩脊；(2) 滨面地层；(3) 海洋阶地；(4) 珊瑚礁梯田。

根据这一提议的分类，基于高分辨率水深测量（即地震衍生的水深测量）的整合，沿着 Rowley Shelf（澳大利亚西北大陆架）这个碳酸盐为主的平台对约 200,000 km ²的区域进行了调查。 、卫星衍生的测深、多波束测深仪、点深度测深）和二维反射地震线。使用五个标准将遗迹特征与现代地貌区分开来：（1）地层位置；(2) 再现特征；(3) 与现代和已发表的类似物的相似性；(4) 融合现代海洋条件；(5) 早期胶结的证据。总共确定了 500 多个水下遗迹海岸特征，使该评论成为迄今为止发布的最全面的目录。

遗迹特征集中在特定深度，称为模态海平面深度 (MSLD)，它对应于相对海平面长时间保持稳定的深度。在海平面以下 20、35、50、60、70、80、90、105 和 125 m 处观察到九个 MSLD。每个 MSLD 都是沿海特征通过多次冰期/间冰期循环积累的结果。尽管如此，大多数特征可能与最后一次冰川海平面下降有关，并且可能形成于海洋同位素阶段 (MIS) 5 和 2 之间。

对淹没海岸特征的分析表明，整体陆架形态受这些特征的分布控制，而在碳酸盐岩省，其形成与风、潮、河流和波浪过程有关。较浅深度的受河流影响的残余特征和较深的受潮汐影响的残余特征的浓度较高，这表明冰川期河流径流受到限制。这反过来又支持了冰期普遍干燥气候和间冰期潮湿气候的假设。最后，该研究表明，罗利大陆架的大多数现代珊瑚礁都生长在废弃的海岸特征之上，而以前被解释为淹没珊瑚礁的海床脊实际上是

这项研究的结果将支持识别全球大陆架上淹没的古海岸线，并突出相关的残余海岸特征对大陆架形态的影响。此外，这项研究为碳酸盐岩省的形成过程提供了新的见解。