Open AccessSandy signs of a tsunami's onshore depth and speed
Author(s) -
Huntington Katharine,
Bourgeois Joanne,
Gelfenbaum Guy,
Lynett Patrick,
Jaffe Bruce,
Yeh Harry,
Weiss Robert
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2007eo520001
Subject(s) - tsunami wave , geology , natural hazard , seismology , hazard , tsunami earthquake , geologic record , oceanography , paleontology , chemistry , organic chemistry
Tsunamis rank among the most devastating and unpredictable natural hazards to affect coastal areas. Just 3 years ago, in December 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami caused more than 225,000 deaths. Like many extreme events, however, destructive tsunamis strike rarely enough that written records span too little time to quantify tsunami hazard and risk. Tsunami deposits preserved in the geologic record have been used to extend the record of tsunami occurrence but not the magnitude of past events. To quantify tsunami hazard further, we asked the following question: Can ancient deposits also provide guidance on the expectable water depths and speeds for future tsunamis?