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Paleotsunami evidence on Kaua‘i and numerical modeling of a great Aleutian tsunami
Author(s) -
Butler Rhett,
Burney David,
Walsh David
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2014gl061232
Subject(s) - geology , sinkhole , seismology , bathymetry , tsunami earthquake , pacific ocean , oceanography , pacific plate , tectonics , subduction , paleontology , karst
The Hawaiian Islands' location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is threatened by tsunamis from great earthquakes in nearly all directions. Historical great earthquakes M w > 8.5 in the last 100 years have produced large inundations and loss of life in the islands but cannot account for a substantial (≤ 600 m 3 ) paleotsunami deposit in the Makauwahi sinkhole on the Island of Kaua‘i. Using high‐resolution bathymetry and topography we model tsunami inundation of the sinkhole caused by an earthquake with a moment magnitude of M w ~9.25 located in the eastern Aleutians. A preponderance of evidence indicates that a giant earthquake in the eastern Aleutian Islands circa 1425–1665 A.D.—located between the source regions of the 1946 and 1957 great tsunamigenic earthquakes—created the paleotsunami deposit in Kaua‘i. A tsunami deposit in the Aleutians dated circa 1530–1660 A.D. is consistent with this eastern Aleutian source region.