Browsing by Author "Nichol, SL"

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    Multi-proxy evidence for trans-Pacific tsunamis in the Hawai'ian Islands
    (Elsevier, 2012-03-01) Chagué-Goff, C; Goff, JR; Nichol, SL; Dudley, W; Zawadzki, AW; Bennett, JW; Mooney, SD; Fierro, D; Heijnis, H; Dominey-Howes, D; Courtney, C
    The origin of two sand layers buried in Pololū wetland, on the northeast coast of the island of Hawai'i, was investigated using a multi-proxy approach, including radiometric dating, sedimentology, geochemistry, micropalaeontology, palynology and historical records. Based on 210Pb, 137Cs and pollen data, the lower sand unit extending 250 to 350 m inland is attributed to the 1946 Aleutian tsunami, while the upper sand unit was laid down by the 1957 Aleutian tsunami. Chronological information does not appear to support any link between these deposits and historical storm events. Furthermore, sedimentological, geochemical, diatom and pollen results suggest deposition of marine and near-beach sediments under high energy conditions typically associated with tsunami inundation. This work presents the first conclusive sedimentary evidence for distantly-generated tsunamis on the Hawai'ian Islands, opening the way for more comprehensive historical and palaeotsunami studies. Indeed, a brief review of archaeological data suggests that the Hawai'ian coast may have experienced similar large magnitude events in the past, from both local and distant sources. © 2012 Elsevier
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    Palaeotsunamis and their influence on Polynesian settlement
    (Sage Publications Ltd, 2012-09-01) Goff, JR; McFadgen, BG; Chagué-Goff, C; Nichol, SL
    The 11 March 2011 TAhoku-oki tsunami caused widespread devastation to coastal communities in Japan. This event however was merely the latest, yet largest, of several similar occurrences in the Pacific that include the 2007 Solomon Islands, 2009 South Pacific and 2010 Chilean tsunamis. All have had their predecessors, and a growing data base of palaeotsunamis in the Pacific suggests recurrent events comparable with, and of larger magnitude than their recent historical counterparts. Here we show that evidence for regional palaeotsunamis provides an opportunity to re-evaluate hypotheses used to explain the punctuated history of human settlement patterns across the Pacific. In particular, the almost two millennia 'long pause' in eastward migration, and the abandonment of long distance sea-voyaging in the 15th century, may be related to palaeotsunamis, with potential sources including the tectonically active Tonga-Kermadec trench, the Kuwae caldera collapse, and the more distant Pacific-wide Ring of Fire. © 2012, SAGE Publications.
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    Palaeotsunamis in the Pacific Islands
    (Elsevier, 2011-07-01) Goff, JR; Chagué-Goff, C; Dominey-Howes, D; McAdoo, B; Cronin, S; Bonté-Grapetin, M; Nichol, SL; Horrocks, M; Cisternas, M; Lamarche, G; Pelletier, B; Jaffe, BE; Dudley, W
    The recent 29 September 2009 South Pacific and 27 February 2010 Chilean events are a graphic reminder that the tsunami hazard and risk for the Pacific Ocean region should not be forgotten. Pacific Islands Countries (PICs) generally have short ( < 150 years) historic records, which means that to understand their tsunami hazard and risk researchers must study evidence for prehistoric events. However, our current state of knowledge of palaeotsunamis in PICs as opposed to their circum-Pacific counterparts is minimal at best. We briefly outline the limited extent of our current knowledge and propose an innovative methodology for future research in the Pacific. Each PLC represents a point source of information in the Pacific Ocean and this would allow their palaeotsunami records to be treated akin to palaeo-DART (R) (Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis) buoys. Contemporaneous palaeotsunamis from local, regional and distant sources could be identified by using the spatial distribution of island records throughout the Pacific Ocean in conjunction with robust event chronologies. This would be highly innovative and, more importantly, would help provide the building blocks necessary to achieve more meaningful disaster risk reduction for PICs. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V.
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    Progress in palaeotsunami research
    (Elsevier, 2012-01-01) Goff, JR; Chagué-Goff, C; Nichol, SL; Jaffe, BE; Dominey-Howes, D
    The study of palaeotsunamis preserved in the sedimentary record has developed over the past three decades to a point where the criteria used to identify these events range from well-tested and accepted to new methods yet to receive wide application. In this paper we review progress with the development of these criteria and identify opportunities for refinements and for extending their application to new settings. The emphasis here is on promoting the use of multiple proxies, selected to best match the context of the site or region of interest. Ultimately, this requires that palaeotsunami research must be a multidisciplinary endeavour and indeed, extend beyond the geological sciences of sedimentology and stratigraphy and, to include knowledge and approaches from field such as archaeology, anthropology and sociology. We also argue that in some instances, despite the use of multiple proxies, the evidence for tsunami inundation of a coast simply may not be preserved. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V.