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Tsunami risk in northwestern Europe: a Holocene example
Author(s) -
Long D.,
Dawson A.G,
Smith D.E.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
terra nova
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.353
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-3121
pISSN - 0954-4879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3121.1989.tb00429.x
Subject(s) - geology , holocene , submarine landslide , landslide , tsunami wave , oceanography , continental shelf , geomorphology , norwegian , sea level , physical geography , seismology , geography , linguistics , philosophy
A thin, regionally extensive, laterally persistent sand layer is present within the Holocene coastal sequences of eastern Scotland, dated to 7000 yr BP. It is proposed that this deposit was caused by a tsunami wave generated by a catastrophic submarine landslide (the Second Storegga Slide) on the Norwegian continental slope. The distribution of this tsunami deposit indicates that the wave penetrated at least 2 km beyond the contemporary coastline and a minimum of 4 m above the contemporary high‐water mark. Although the frequency of tsunamis may be low in this region their effects should be considered for very long‐term or very sensitive strategic developments at coastal sites.