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Within Oceania, the vast Central and Western Pacific (CEWEP) is an intriguing anomaly because of the scarcity of historical tsunami observations and the complete absence of dated palaeotsunami events. This study establishes the first dated high-magnitude palaeotsunami event within the CEWEP region. Both geological data and oral legend are presented for a palaeotsunami that struck remote Makin atoll in northernmost Kiribati towards the end of the 16th century. Narration of the euhemeristic myth by the Wiin te Maneaba, traditional storyteller on Makin, offered important details supporting a tsunami hypothesis. The legend preserves credible information surrounding the giant-wave origin of Rebua and Tokia, two prominent named subaerial reefblocks of megaclast size that were produced and transported shorewards away from the reef edge by the event. The youngest U-Th age-dates for fossil coral samples in the reefblocks give a maximum age for the palaeotsunami of circa AD 1576. Several far-field Pacific Rim and regional possibilities exist for tsunamigenesis. These include subduction-zone seismicity and catastrophic volcanic eruption, both of which have been linked to late 15th century palaeotsunamis recorded elsewhere in the Pacific Islands. Available evidence, however, suggests that the ~AD 1576 Makin event was more likely locally generated by tsunamigenic submarine slope failure associated with the giant arcuate bight structure that characterises the northern atoll rim.
James Terry; Robert Karoro; Gennady Gienko; Marta Wieczorek; Annie Lau. Oral legend and geological evidence for a 16th century giant tsunami in Kiribati, central Pacific. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleJames Terry, Robert Karoro, Gennady Gienko, Marta Wieczorek, Annie Lau. Oral legend and geological evidence for a 16th century giant tsunami in Kiribati, central Pacific. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames Terry; Robert Karoro; Gennady Gienko; Marta Wieczorek; Annie Lau. 2021. "Oral legend and geological evidence for a 16th century giant tsunami in Kiribati, central Pacific." , no. : 1.
For tsunami science within Oceania, the vast Central and Western Pacific (CEWEP) is an anomalous region because of the scarcity of historical tsunami observations and the complete absence of dated palaeotsunami evidence. This paper therefore records the first dated high-magnitude palaeotsunami event within the CEWEP region. A combination of both geological data and oral history is provided for a palaeotsunami that struck remote Makin island, northernmost of the Gilbert Islands in Kiribati, towards the end of the 16th century. A previously undocumented oral tradition of giant waves is well known to the people of Makin. Narration of this legend by the Wiin te Maneaba, traditional storyteller on Makin, provided important details supporting a tsunami hypothesis. The legend preserves credible information surrounding the giant-wave origin of Rebua and Tokia, two prominent subaerial megaclasts of blade and block geometry that were transported 80–130 m shorewards from the reef-edge source and deposited in inverted and sideways orientations. From available hydrodynamic flow transport equations, minimum flow velocities of 7.3–16.3 m s-1 were generated, depending on whether the reefblocks were rotated or lifted onto the reef platform. The youngest U-Th age-dates for fossil corals retrieved from the reefblocks give a maximum age for the palaeotsunami of circa AD 1576. Several far-field Pacific Rim and regional possibilities exist for tsunamigenesis. These include subduction-zone seismicity and catastrophic volcanic eruption, both of which have been linked to earlier (late 15th century) palaeotsunami events recorded elsewhere in the Pacific Islands. However, the available evidence here suggests that the ~AD 1576 Makin palaeotsunami was more likely to have been locally generated by tsunamigenic offshore submarine slope failure close to Makin's western reef, associated with the giant arcuate bight structure that characterises the northern rim of Butaritati atoll.
James P. Terry; Robert Karoro; Gennady A. Gienko; Marta Wieczorek; A. Y. Annie Lau. Giant palaeotsunami in Kiribati: Converging evidence from geology and oral history. Island Arc 2021, 30, e12417 .
AMA StyleJames P. Terry, Robert Karoro, Gennady A. Gienko, Marta Wieczorek, A. Y. Annie Lau. Giant palaeotsunami in Kiribati: Converging evidence from geology and oral history. Island Arc. 2021; 30 (1):e12417.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames P. Terry; Robert Karoro; Gennady A. Gienko; Marta Wieczorek; A. Y. Annie Lau. 2021. "Giant palaeotsunami in Kiribati: Converging evidence from geology and oral history." Island Arc 30, no. 1: e12417.
Thailand’s low-lying capital city Bangkok is a dense metropolis, one of Asia’s rapidly growing ‘megacities’, and home to over 10 million residents. Bangkok’s location on the sinking Chao Phraya Delta means it has a high susceptibility to river flooding. However, the possible contribution of marine incursion to river flooding is not as widely recognised and needs further consideration. We therefore re-examine the historically documented floods in AD 1785 and 1983. Available evidence suggests that the superposition of different flood behaviours was important during both events. Attention is drawn to the evidence for, and contributory roles played by, astronomical spring tides, meteorological tides, storm waves and possibly storm surge. These marine effects can exacerbate river floods caused by seasonal peak flows in the tidal lower Chao Phraya River during the early north-east monsoon. For future management of flood risk, it is therefore necessary to recognise that Bangkok has a compound flood-risk profile that includes both hydrometeorological and marine influences. The significance of marine influences on Bangkok’s flood risk is likely to increase in future with continuing eustatic sea-level rise and subsidence of the Chao Phraya Delta.
James P. Terry; Nigel Winspear; James Goff. Is Bangkok at risk of marine flooding? Evidence relating to the historical floods of AD 1785 and 1983. Natural Hazards 2020, 105, 1013 -1030.
AMA StyleJames P. Terry, Nigel Winspear, James Goff. Is Bangkok at risk of marine flooding? Evidence relating to the historical floods of AD 1785 and 1983. Natural Hazards. 2020; 105 (1):1013-1030.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames P. Terry; Nigel Winspear; James Goff. 2020. "Is Bangkok at risk of marine flooding? Evidence relating to the historical floods of AD 1785 and 1983." Natural Hazards 105, no. 1: 1013-1030.
Palaeotsunami research in the Sino-Pacific region has increased markedly following the 2011 Tōhoku-oki tsunami. Recent studies encompass a variety of potential sources and cover a full range of research activities from detailed studies at individual sites through to region-wide data collation for the purposes of database development. We synthesise palaeotsunami data from around the region drawing on key examples to highlight the progress made since 2011. We focus on a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, from region-wide to local events, from multi-millennial site records to estimates of magnitude and frequency along national coastlines. The review is based on sub-regions but in reviewing the combined records highlights common events and anomalies. In doing so we identify future research opportunities and notable findings arising from our review.
James Goff; Rob Witter; James Terry; Michaela Spiske. Palaeotsunamis in the Sino-Pacific region. Earth-Science Reviews 2020, 210, 103352 .
AMA StyleJames Goff, Rob Witter, James Terry, Michaela Spiske. Palaeotsunamis in the Sino-Pacific region. Earth-Science Reviews. 2020; 210 ():103352.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames Goff; Rob Witter; James Terry; Michaela Spiske. 2020. "Palaeotsunamis in the Sino-Pacific region." Earth-Science Reviews 210, no. : 103352.
Journal of Coastal Research publishes content relevant to natural and engineered coastline environments and the protection/management of their resources.
James P. Terry; Randolph R. Thaman. Of Limestone Coasts and Giant Robber Crabs –Rediscovering Niuē Island in the Central Pacific Ocean. Journal of Coastal Research 2020, 101, 277 -283.
AMA StyleJames P. Terry, Randolph R. Thaman. Of Limestone Coasts and Giant Robber Crabs –Rediscovering Niuē Island in the Central Pacific Ocean. Journal of Coastal Research. 2020; 101 (sp1):277-283.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames P. Terry; Randolph R. Thaman. 2020. "Of Limestone Coasts and Giant Robber Crabs –Rediscovering Niuē Island in the Central Pacific Ocean." Journal of Coastal Research 101, no. sp1: 277-283.
Existing hydrodynamic flow transport equations for coastal boulder transport are useful for estimating post-event the characteristics of extreme storm waves and tsunamis. However, the effect of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) on seawater density is normally ignored. This is unrealistic given that turbulent runup flows easily entrain available fine sediment. Proper consideration of SSC can be encouraged by including a mixed-fluid density coefficient (Cρ) as a multiplier for clear-seawater density, where elevated sediment content can be assumed and estimated. Minimum flow velocities required for boulder transport are shown to reduce as sediment concentrations increase.
James P. Terry; Shoaib A. Malik. Reconsidering the seawater-density parameter in hydrodynamic flow transport equations for coastal boulders. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 2020, 63, 363 -370.
AMA StyleJames P. Terry, Shoaib A. Malik. Reconsidering the seawater-density parameter in hydrodynamic flow transport equations for coastal boulders. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 2020; 63 (3):363-370.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames P. Terry; Shoaib A. Malik. 2020. "Reconsidering the seawater-density parameter in hydrodynamic flow transport equations for coastal boulders." New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 63, no. 3: 363-370.
This study utilizes remote sensing imagery, a differential averaging technique and empirical formulas (the ‘Liou–Liu formulas’) to investigate three consecutive sets of dual-vortex interactions between four cyclonic events and their neighboring environmental air flows in the Northwest Pacific Ocean during the 2017 typhoon season. The investigation thereby deepens the current understanding of interactions involving multiple simultaneous/sequential cyclone systems. Triple interactions between Noru–Kulap–Nesat and Noru–Nesat–Haitung were analyzed using geosynchronous satellite infrared (IR1) and IR3 water vapor (WV) images. The differential averaging technique based on the normalized difference convection index (NDCI) operator and filter depicted differences and generated a new set of clarified NDCI images. During the first set of dual-vortex interactions, Typhoon Noru experienced an increase in intensity and a U-turn in its direction after being influenced by adjacent cooler air masses and air flows. Noru’s track change led to Fujiwhara-type rotation with Tropical Storm Kulap approaching from the opposite direction. Kulap weakened and merged with Noru, which tracked in a counter-clockwise loop. Thereafter, in spite of a distance of 2000–2500 km separating Typhoon Noru and newly-formed Typhoon Nesat, the influence of middle air flows and jet flows caused an ‘indirect interaction’ between these typhoons. Evidence of this second interaction includes the intensification of both typhoons and changing track directions. The third interaction occurred subsequently between Tropical Storm Haitang and Typhoon Nesat. Due to their relatively close proximity, a typical Fujiwhara effect was observed when the two systems began orbiting cyclonically. The generalized Liou–Liu formulas for calculating threshold distances between typhoons successfully validated and quantified the trilogy of interaction events. Through the unusual and combined effects of the consecutive dual-vortex interactions, Typhoon Noru survived 22 days from 19 July to 9 August 2017 and migrated approximately 6900 km. Typhoon Noru consequently became the third longest-lasting typhoon on record for the Northwest Pacific Ocean. A comparison is made with long-lived Typhoon Rita in 1972, which also experienced similar multiple Fujiwhara interactions with three other concurrent typhoons.
Yuei-An Liou; Ji-Chyun Liu; Chung-Chih Liu; Chun-Hsu Chen; Kim-Anh Nguyen; James P. Terry. Consecutive Dual-Vortex Interactions between Quadruple Typhoons Noru, Kulap, Nesat and Haitang during the 2017 North Pacific Typhoon Season. Remote Sensing 2019, 11, 1843 .
AMA StyleYuei-An Liou, Ji-Chyun Liu, Chung-Chih Liu, Chun-Hsu Chen, Kim-Anh Nguyen, James P. Terry. Consecutive Dual-Vortex Interactions between Quadruple Typhoons Noru, Kulap, Nesat and Haitang during the 2017 North Pacific Typhoon Season. Remote Sensing. 2019; 11 (16):1843.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYuei-An Liou; Ji-Chyun Liu; Chung-Chih Liu; Chun-Hsu Chen; Kim-Anh Nguyen; James P. Terry. 2019. "Consecutive Dual-Vortex Interactions between Quadruple Typhoons Noru, Kulap, Nesat and Haitang during the 2017 North Pacific Typhoon Season." Remote Sensing 11, no. 16: 1843.
Two recent tsunamis in Indonesia highlight the importance of submarine landslides. Although both events had different origins (volcanic, seismic), submarine landsliding was probably the key component in tsunamigenesis. While a few recent submarine landslide-generated tsunamis have been discussed in the literature, these types of events have not been seriously scrutinised by geoscientists or hazard modellers. This is most likely because of both a lack of awareness and also the common perception that such events are too remote a possibility to be of major concern. However, by catching us off-guard, these two Indonesian events have brought slope-failure tsunamigenesis into sharper focus. It is hoped that this will stimulate greater scholarship on the issue of slope-failure tsunamigenesis worldwide, with an aim to better understanding event characteristics, probabilities, and ultimately better inform existing risk reduction strategies.
James P. Terry; James Goff; Nigel Winspear; Vena Pearl Bongolan. Short communication: Recognising the perils of landslide-generated tsunamis in the Asia–Pacific region. Natural Hazards 2019, 97, 1413 -1416.
AMA StyleJames P. Terry, James Goff, Nigel Winspear, Vena Pearl Bongolan. Short communication: Recognising the perils of landslide-generated tsunamis in the Asia–Pacific region. Natural Hazards. 2019; 97 (3):1413-1416.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames P. Terry; James Goff; Nigel Winspear; Vena Pearl Bongolan. 2019. "Short communication: Recognising the perils of landslide-generated tsunamis in the Asia–Pacific region." Natural Hazards 97, no. 3: 1413-1416.
Recent studies of elevated carbonate boulder deposits on several rock islands near Bangkok have indicated that Thailand's capital city may not be as protected from typhoon strikes as previously thought. Here, new evidence is presented for past high‐energy wave (HEW) events in the form of statistically significant patterns of boulder alignment on exposed rocky shorelines of Ko Larn island. The long‐axis orientations of 193 coastal sandstone boulders were analysed across four study sites. Several scenarios for the unimodal, bimodal, and polymodal patterns found can be envisaged. Either the most recent HEW event was the strongest—in which case most clasts were rearranged unimodally (one observation site), or the strongest HEW event was earlier and subsequent weaker ones realigned only smaller boulders to produce bimodal or polymodal patterns (three observation sites). Inferred northeastward or eastward onshore flow directions are consistent with palaeo‐typhoons penetrating into the Bay of Bangkok on northwestward curving tracks. The calculated minimum flow velocities required to transport all sampled boulders are 5.5–7.8 m s−1, similar to other findings throughout the Asia‐Pacific region. It was observed that the absence of a fitted boulder geomorphology lends credence to the earlier proposed time frame of 150–200 years between typhoon phases in the upper Gulf of Thailand. The current work has provided additional insights into the characteristics of past HEW events that have a possibility of reoccurring again at some time in the future. Our findings continue to raise awareness for a reassessment of the risks of coastal hazards for the Chao Phraya River delta and densely populated Bangkok, for which storm surge modelling should be an urgent priority, so as to give better perceptions on how typhoon‐driven marine incursion would impact the city.
James P. Terry; James Goff. Strongly aligned coastal boulders on Ko Larn island (Thailand): a proxy for past typhoon‐driven high‐energy wave events in the Bay of Bangkok. Geographical Research 2019, 57, 344 -358.
AMA StyleJames P. Terry, James Goff. Strongly aligned coastal boulders on Ko Larn island (Thailand): a proxy for past typhoon‐driven high‐energy wave events in the Bay of Bangkok. Geographical Research. 2019; 57 (3):344-358.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames P. Terry; James Goff. 2019. "Strongly aligned coastal boulders on Ko Larn island (Thailand): a proxy for past typhoon‐driven high‐energy wave events in the Bay of Bangkok." Geographical Research 57, no. 3: 344-358.
James P. Terry; James Goff; Kruawun Jankaew. Major typhoon phases in the upper Gulf of Thailand over the last 1.5 millennia, determined from coastal deposits on rock islands. Quaternary International 2018, 487, 87 -98.
AMA StyleJames P. Terry, James Goff, Kruawun Jankaew. Major typhoon phases in the upper Gulf of Thailand over the last 1.5 millennia, determined from coastal deposits on rock islands. Quaternary International. 2018; 487 ():87-98.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames P. Terry; James Goff; Kruawun Jankaew. 2018. "Major typhoon phases in the upper Gulf of Thailand over the last 1.5 millennia, determined from coastal deposits on rock islands." Quaternary International 487, no. : 87-98.
The thick smog that blanketed India's capital, New Delhi, in early November 2017 saw air quality index values peak above 1000 – a figure in excess of three times the threshold value for ‘hazardous’ conditions. A public health emergency was declared. Delhi's smog was the result of an existing ambient urban air‐pollution problem, significantly worsened by smoke blowing in from numerous agricultural fires burning across neighbouring Punjab and Haryana states. Post‐summer monsoon regional air‐flow patterns, decreasing autumn temperatures, high‐pressure stability, temperature inversion and light local winds helped to produce climatic conditions that were conducive to smog build‐up and subsequently prevented it from readily dispersing. Well‐intentioned measures introduced by the authorities saw only partial improvement in city air quality after three weeks. To reduce the severity of future smog hazards, a region‐wide agreement to restrict stubble burning during late autumn across northwest India will be needed.
James P. Terry; Gensuo Jia; Robert Boldi; Sarah Khan. The Delhi ‘gas chamber’: smog, air pollution and the health emergency of November 2017. Weather 2018, 73, 348 -352.
AMA StyleJames P. Terry, Gensuo Jia, Robert Boldi, Sarah Khan. The Delhi ‘gas chamber’: smog, air pollution and the health emergency of November 2017. Weather. 2018; 73 (11):348-352.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames P. Terry; Gensuo Jia; Robert Boldi; Sarah Khan. 2018. "The Delhi ‘gas chamber’: smog, air pollution and the health emergency of November 2017." Weather 73, no. 11: 348-352.
The Arabian Sea basin represents a minor component of global total cyclones annually and has not featured so prominently in cyclone research compared with other basins where greater numbers of cyclones are registered each year. This paper presents the results of exploratory analysis of various features of cyclone tracks in the Arabian Sea, with a particular focus on examining their temporal and spatial patterns. Track morphometry also reveals further information on track shape. The study indicates how cyclones spawned during May in the early pre-monsoon period (often strong events) have a tendency to follow more sinuous tracks, whereas cyclones occurring in October in the post-monsoon period tend to follow straighter tracks. Track sinuosity is significantly related to other attributes, including cyclone longevity and intensity. Comparisons are also drawn between the general characteristics of cyclone tracks in the Arabian Sea and other ocean basins, suggesting how the size and geography of the Arabian Sea basin exert influences on these characteristics.
James P. Terry; Gennady Gienko. Quantitative observations on tropical cyclone tracks in the Arabian Sea. Theoretical and Applied Climatology 2018, 135, 1413 -1421.
AMA StyleJames P. Terry, Gennady Gienko. Quantitative observations on tropical cyclone tracks in the Arabian Sea. Theoretical and Applied Climatology. 2018; 135 (3-4):1413-1421.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames P. Terry; Gennady Gienko. 2018. "Quantitative observations on tropical cyclone tracks in the Arabian Sea." Theoretical and Applied Climatology 135, no. 3-4: 1413-1421.
Toomey et al. (2016) present a credible new model to explain variations in the formation of Pacific Ocean atolls through the Late Cenozoic, thus accounting for contemporary differences in atoll morphology. While we do not contradict the primary influences of dissolution and sedimentation processes, we suggest that the influence of submarine landsliding should not be ignored. Multiple slope failures exist on the flanks of many atolls. When large submarine landslides affected a significant portion of a palaeo-atoll rim, this had the potential to open up an atoll lagoon allowing much freer circulation between the lagoon and the ocean. Our atoll flank collapse model therefore provides an additional mechanism for an enclosed atoll lagoon to become a ‘leaking bucket’ system and an atoll more likely to evolve into the ‘empty bucket’ form with later sea-level rise. Submarine landsliding adds additional support for the new model of atoll formation proposed by Toomey et al.
James P. Terry; James Goff. Comment on “Late Cenozoic sea level and the rise of modern rimmed atolls” by Toomey et al. (2016), Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 451: 73–83. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 2017, 469, 156 -158.
AMA StyleJames P. Terry, James Goff. Comment on “Late Cenozoic sea level and the rise of modern rimmed atolls” by Toomey et al. (2016), Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 451: 73–83. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 2017; 469 ():156-158.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames P. Terry; James Goff. 2017. "Comment on “Late Cenozoic sea level and the rise of modern rimmed atolls” by Toomey et al. (2016), Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 451: 73–83." Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 469, no. : 156-158.
On the Coral Coast of Viti Levu Island in Fiji, inadequate knowledge of suspended sediment delivery patterns in small pristine coastal watersheds hinders any future assessment of accelerated erosion in disturbed areas nearby. This study adopts a rainfall–stream turbidity monitoring approach in the Votua Creek, which drains a small, steep but minimally-disturbed coastal rainforest catchment. Storm rainfall characteristics, stream depth and water turbidity were continuously monitored over one complete Fiji wet season from October 2009 to April 2010. The aim was to evaluate whether these parameters provide sufficient information to illustrate basic features of storm–sediment transport responses, in the case of limited stream gauging and very simple sediment rating curves. This is important because Pacific Island nations like Fiji do not have the resources to initiate long-term gauging and sediment sampling programmes across numerous small catchments. A significant power function demonstrates that turbidity (T) is a suitable proxy for total suspended solids (TSS) for turbidity measurements above 5 NTU, with TSS=0.930T1.111 (r=0.98, P<0.001). Over the study period, 10 individual storms 11.2–120.1 mm in size produced a ‘significant turbidity response’ (STR) in the Votua Creek. Rainfall parameters (totals and intensities) showed positive linear relationships (r=0.72–0.94) with stream turbidity parameters (mean, maximum, duration), whilst relationships of similar strength (r=0.76–0.98) were also derived between stream flow depth and turbidity. This implies that for small rainforest watersheds in Fiji, rainfall parameters offer no substantial disadvantage over flow as predictors of stream sediment responses to major storms. Event-based analysis revealed that negative (anticlockwise) hysteresis is a typical flow-turbidity pattern for STR events. Negative hysteresis is produced when secondary episodes of renewed (heavy) rainfall occur after maximum intensity, in the later phase of storm events. Tropical Cyclone Mick in December 2009 generated the largest flood and the greatest turbidity response (Tmax=1021 NTU, Tmean=207 NTU). This concurs with earlier work confirming that tropical cyclones are the most important events for sediment transport in Fiji stream networks.
Arishma Ram; James P. Terry. Stream turbidity responses to storm events in a pristine rainforest watershed on the Coral Coast of southern Fiji. International Journal of Sediment Research 2016, 31, 279 -290.
AMA StyleArishma Ram, James P. Terry. Stream turbidity responses to storm events in a pristine rainforest watershed on the Coral Coast of southern Fiji. International Journal of Sediment Research. 2016; 31 (4):279-290.
Chicago/Turabian StyleArishma Ram; James P. Terry. 2016. "Stream turbidity responses to storm events in a pristine rainforest watershed on the Coral Coast of southern Fiji." International Journal of Sediment Research 31, no. 4: 279-290.
A Y Annie Lau; James P. Terry; Alan D. Ziegler; Adam D. Switzer; Yingsin Lee; Samuel Etienne. Understanding the history of extreme wave events in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia from large carbonate boulders on Makemo Atoll, with implications for future threats in the central South Pacific. Marine Geology 2016, 380, 174 -190.
AMA StyleA Y Annie Lau, James P. Terry, Alan D. Ziegler, Adam D. Switzer, Yingsin Lee, Samuel Etienne. Understanding the history of extreme wave events in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia from large carbonate boulders on Makemo Atoll, with implications for future threats in the central South Pacific. Marine Geology. 2016; 380 ():174-190.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA Y Annie Lau; James P. Terry; Alan D. Ziegler; Adam D. Switzer; Yingsin Lee; Samuel Etienne. 2016. "Understanding the history of extreme wave events in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia from large carbonate boulders on Makemo Atoll, with implications for future threats in the central South Pacific." Marine Geology 380, no. : 174-190.
Coastal geomorphic processes associated with high-energy storm events are difficult to estimate over recent geological history, though their frequency and magnitude are important to assess in order to understand present-day coastal vulnerability. Studying ancient coastal boulder deposits can shed light on the previous physical conditions necessary for their deposition. In this study, we estimated the physical processes required to move reef-derived coral boulders on the east coast of Ko Samui, a rapidly developing tourist island off eastern peninsular Thailand. The position and dimensions of 97 coral boulders (weight: mean 2.9 t, max. 12.7 t; transport distance: max. 125 m) were measured at two sites and dated using uranium/thorium methods. Flow velocities of 2.3–8.6 m/s were required to transport the measured boulders, with individuals deposited up to 4.7 m above mean sea level. Age-dating suggests that events capable of the highest flow velocities occurred around AD 1600 and AD 1750. These were probably driven by tropical cyclones (typhoons). Boulder transport by events of similar magnitude has not been detected within the last 250 years. The non-occurrence of similar events in living memory has implications for hazard perceptions at this important tourist destination. However, there is also evidence of substantial Holocene sea-level changes in the Gulf of Thailand, as observed at nearby Ko Phaluai. This potentially offers a challenge for the interpretation of older boulders dating from the mid-Holocene, as sea level may have been more than 2 m higher than present. Thus, studies using coral boulders as a proxy for past storm-wave conditions must consider the broader sea-level history, and are probably best limited to the period post-2000 BP in the Gulf of Thailand.
James P. Terry; Grahame J.H. Oliver; Daniel A. Friess. Ancient high-energy storm boulder deposits on Ko Samui, Thailand, and their significance for identifying coastal hazard risk. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 2016, 454, 282 -293.
AMA StyleJames P. Terry, Grahame J.H. Oliver, Daniel A. Friess. Ancient high-energy storm boulder deposits on Ko Samui, Thailand, and their significance for identifying coastal hazard risk. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 2016; 454 ():282-293.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames P. Terry; Grahame J.H. Oliver; Daniel A. Friess. 2016. "Ancient high-energy storm boulder deposits on Ko Samui, Thailand, and their significance for identifying coastal hazard risk." Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 454, no. : 282-293.
Charting the journey of the term “tsunami” through to its nearly ubiquitous global use today is not simply a case of determining when it was borrowed from Japanese. It represents an almost 1400 year journey from the earliest historical Japanese reference to waves generated by the AD684 Hakuho-Nankai earthquake to a 95.7% usage by international media to describe the 2010 Chilean tsunami. The gradual rise of the term's usage parallels changes in Japanese society from an educated elite in Kyoto writing down oral event descriptions from various prefectures, to the spread of newspapers, an increasing Western influence and a preference within the education system. The widespread use of the term tsunami throughout Japan was not truly achieved until the same decade that it was adopted by Western scientists to describe the 1946 Alaskan tsunami in Hawaii. The alternative term kaishou most likely became less popular simply because it was more difficult to understand in Japanese. While there has been a rapid uptake in Western science, and ultimately its wider adoption, this has been aided greatly by two major events to affect the Hawaiian Islands in 1946 (Alaskan) and 1960 (Chilean). During this time the meaning of the term has also changed with semantic narrowing focusing in on the definition we know today. Along the way there have been casualties, with terms such as kaishou now rarely, if ever, appearing. Other terms, which speak volumes about not only the richness of the Japanese language, but also of Japanese experience with tsunamis in the past, now offer us the opportunity to use appropriate qualifying terms to describe the nature of an event. A souteigai-tsunami is an unexpectedly large event whereas a yoda is a small one.
James Goff; Yuichi Ebina; Kazuhisa Goto; James Terry. Defining tsunamis: Yoda strikes back? Earth-Science Reviews 2016, 159, 271 -274.
AMA StyleJames Goff, Yuichi Ebina, Kazuhisa Goto, James Terry. Defining tsunamis: Yoda strikes back? Earth-Science Reviews. 2016; 159 ():271-274.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames Goff; Yuichi Ebina; Kazuhisa Goto; James Terry. 2016. "Defining tsunamis: Yoda strikes back?" Earth-Science Reviews 159, no. : 271-274.
The expected geomorphic after-effects of the Mw 9.0 Tōhoku-oki earthquake of 11 March 2011 (eastern Japan) are summarized by a schematic model of seismic driving, which details seismogenic disturbances to sediment systems that affect the rate or timing of sediment delivery to coastlines over timescales of 10(2)-10(4)years. The immediate physical environmental responses to this high-magnitude earthquake included a large tsunami and extensive region-wide slope failures. Normally, slope failures within mountain catchments would have significant impacts on Japan's river and coastal geomorphology in the coming decades with, for example, a new beach ridge expected to form within 20-100 years on the Sendai Plain. However, human activity has significantly modified the rate and timing of geomorphic processes of the region, which will have impacts on likely geomorphic responses to seismic driving. For example, the rivers draining into Sendai Bay have been dammed, providing sediment traps that will efficiently capture bedload and much suspended sediment in transit through the river system. Instead of the expected ~1 km of coastal progradation and formation of a ~3m high beach ridge prior to the next large tsunami, it is likely that progradation of the Sendai Plain will continue to slow or even cease as a result of damming of river systems and capture of river sediments behind dams. The resulting reduction of fluvial sediment delivery to the coast due to modification of rivers inadvertently makes seawalls and other engineered coastal structures even more necessary than they would be otherwise.
James Goff; Jasper Knight; Daisuke Sugawara; James P. Terry. Anthropogenic disruption to the seismic driving of beach ridge formation: The Sendai coast, Japan. Science of The Total Environment 2016, 544, 18 -23.
AMA StyleJames Goff, Jasper Knight, Daisuke Sugawara, James P. Terry. Anthropogenic disruption to the seismic driving of beach ridge formation: The Sendai coast, Japan. Science of The Total Environment. 2016; 544 ():18-23.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames Goff; Jasper Knight; Daisuke Sugawara; James P. Terry. 2016. "Anthropogenic disruption to the seismic driving of beach ridge formation: The Sendai coast, Japan." Science of The Total Environment 544, no. : 18-23.
Rapidly rising populations of low-lying megacities in Asia mean that understanding the potential risk of coastal flooding by storm surge is of paramount concern. The city of Bangkok and the wider Chao Phraya River delta at the head of the Gulf of Thailand is a region topographically vulnerable to coastal flooding, but without the record of a high-energy marine inundation (HEMI) event in historical time owing to the atypical path that a typhoon must take to be able to produce such an event. This work builds upon previous findings that identified coastal depositional evidence for HEMI events in the form of coastal carbonate boulders (CCBs) located on Ko Larn island in the eastern Bay of Bangkok. The HEMI events were most likely driven by typhoons and the CCBs are therefore interpreted as typhoon deposits. Through uranium/thorium dating, it is revealed that from AD1400–1600 the Bay of Bangkok possibly experienced a phase of relatively heightened storm impact. During this period, the frequency of typhoon-driven HEMI events was approximately four events in 200 years. Waves generated onshore minimum flow velocities (MFVs) in excess of 5 m/s. Such exceptional MFVs are unlikely to be produced during the annual northeast monsoon, but are consistent with typhoon-impacted coastlines elsewhere in the tropical Asia–Pacific region where similar CCB evidence exists. Since AD1600, the Bay of Bangkok has enjoyed a relatively quiescent phase, recording less frequent HEMI events and of lower magnitude. However, the reoccurrence of a typhoon-driven HEMI event on the scale of the prehistorical events that emplaced carbonate boulders at elevation on Ko Larn island would threaten low-lying coasts in the Bay of Bangkok, including the Chao Phraya delta, with potentially damaging inundation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
James P. Terry; Kieran Dunne; Kruawun Jankaew. Prehistorical frequency of high-energy marine inundation events driven by typhoons in the Bay of Bangkok (Thailand), interpreted from coastal carbonate boulders. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 2016, 41, 553 -562.
AMA StyleJames P. Terry, Kieran Dunne, Kruawun Jankaew. Prehistorical frequency of high-energy marine inundation events driven by typhoons in the Bay of Bangkok (Thailand), interpreted from coastal carbonate boulders. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 2016; 41 (4):553-562.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames P. Terry; Kieran Dunne; Kruawun Jankaew. 2016. "Prehistorical frequency of high-energy marine inundation events driven by typhoons in the Bay of Bangkok (Thailand), interpreted from coastal carbonate boulders." Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 41, no. 4: 553-562.
We discuss issues related to a recognised shortcoming in existing tsunami hazard assessments for Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), that of tsunamigenic slope failures (TSFs). Currently, TSFs are most likely underrepresented as sources in existing tsunami databases for two key reasons. First, relatively low magnitude earthquakes associated with subduction zones are generally assigned as the tsunamigenic source, as opposed to the TSFs they generate. A reassessment of such ‘anomalous tsunamis’ may yield clues that serve to reassign their tsunamigenic source. Second, there are thousands of oceanic islands and seamounts scattered across the Pacific and flank collapse of volcanic edifices such as these is a largely unquantified tsunamigenic threat. However, while it is now possible to model such TSFs, this is unlikely to happen in the near future because of the lack of detailed bathymetry and landslide mass data. Recent developments in the identification of past tsunamis in the Pacific Islands have developed a unique range of indicators that can be used for identifying such events. These are geological, oral tradition and archaeological components that include, but are not limited to, a modified Darwinian model of atoll formation, coastal megaclasts, oral traditions of vanished islands and giant waves, and the abandonment of prehistoric coastal sites. As such, the most logical way forward is to use the multiple indicators available to us to identify evidence of past tsunamis.
James Goff; James P. Terry. Tsunamigenic slope failures: the Pacific Islands ‘blind spot’? Landslides 2015, 13, 1535 -1543.
AMA StyleJames Goff, James P. Terry. Tsunamigenic slope failures: the Pacific Islands ‘blind spot’? Landslides. 2015; 13 (6):1535-1543.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames Goff; James P. Terry. 2015. "Tsunamigenic slope failures: the Pacific Islands ‘blind spot’?" Landslides 13, no. 6: 1535-1543.