Reciting the layers: evidence for past tsunamis at Mataora-Wairau Lagoon, Aotearoa-New Zealand

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dc.contributor.authorKing, DNen_AU
dc.contributor.authorGoff, JRen_AU
dc.contributor.authorChagué-Goff, Cen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMcFadgen, BGen_AU
dc.contributor.authorJacobsen, GEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorGadd, PSen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHorrocks, Men_AU
dc.date.accessioned2020-03-23T23:52:42Zen_AU
dc.date.available2020-03-23T23:52:42Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2017-07-01en_AU
dc.date.statistics2020-03-20en_AU
dc.description.abstractSedimentary, geochemical, microfossil and geochronological analyses were carried out on 10 sediment cores across the south-eastern corner of Mataora-Wairau Lagoon (M-WL), South Island, Aotearoa-New Zealand. This multi-proxy approach provides strong evidence for three late Holocene palaeotsunamis (two previously unreported) and a historical tsunami generated by rupture of the Wairarapa Fault in 1855 CE. The main scientific evidence for these events consists of anomalous, high-energy marine sediment layers that overlie material of contrasting composition. These layers coincide with peaks in planktonic and benthic marine to brackish-marine diatoms and geochemical signatures indicative of sudden changes in environmental conditions. Palaeotsunami I (maximum date 2095 cal. BP) and Palaeotsunami II (maximum date 915 cal. BP - previously identified by Clark et al., 2015) appear to represent large events contemporaneous with major earthquakes inducing tectonic uplift and coseismic subsidence around the Cook Strait region. Palaeotsunami II is close to the date of the earliest settlement of the M-WL area by Māori, and a traditional narrative that references loss of life following waves over-washing the Wairau boulder bank. Given the boulder bank was likely to have been seaward of its current position during events I and II, we surmise that the inundation distances would have been greater than the most landward extent (340 m) inferred from the deposits found in this study. Palaeotsunami III (maximum date 525 cal. BP) was associated with tectonic subsidence across the study site, most likely associated with rupture of the southern Hikurangi subduction zone. We expect the ongoing refinement of the methods used in this study, and the results from future studies of analogue sites and offshore fault systems, will improve our understanding of the significant tsunami hazard facing this region. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationKing, D. N., Goff, J. R., Chagué-Goff, C., McFadgen, B., Jacobsen, G. E., Gadd, P., & Horrocks, M. (2017). Reciting the layers: evidence for past tsunamis at Mataora-Wairau Lagoon, Aotearoa-New Zealand. Marine Geology, 389, 1-16. doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2017.05.001en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc8469en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0025-3227en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleMarine Geologyen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination1-16en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2017.05.001en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/9202en_AU
dc.identifier.volume389en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevier B.V.en_AU
dc.subjectTsunamisen_AU
dc.subjectSedimentsen_AU
dc.subjectFossilsen_AU
dc.subjectNew Zealanden_AU
dc.subjectEarthquakesen_AU
dc.subjectTectonicsen_AU
dc.subjectRiversen_AU
dc.titleReciting the layers: evidence for past tsunamis at Mataora-Wairau Lagoon, Aotearoa-New Zealanden_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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