Deciphering the sedimentary imprint of tsunamis and storms in the Lesser Antilles (Saint Martin): A 3500-year record in a coastal lagoon

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F68407700%3A90263%2F24%3A00381477" target="_blank" >RIV/68407700:90263/24:00381477 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2024.107284" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2024.107284</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2024.107284" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.margeo.2024.107284</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Deciphering the sedimentary imprint of tsunamis and storms in the Lesser Antilles (Saint Martin): A 3500-year record in a coastal lagoon

Original language description

Our study aims at identifying and characterizing tsunami and storm deposits by combining sedimentological, geochemical, and radiocarbon dating analyses. X-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT) is used to characterize the sedimentary fabric of the deposits. The study was conducted on a transect of oriented short sediment cores from a small lagoon at Saint Martin (Lesser Antilles), where both event types could be observed. Using micro-CT data of different event deposits, we were able to derive paleo-flow orientations and directions and compare the dynamics of the events to their environmental setting. The results showed that seven extreme-wave event (EWE) deposits, originating from hurricanes or tsunamis, had the highest Ca/Fe ratios, distinctive for marine input to the lagoon, and were characterized by coarser grains. Some also presented above the sandy part of the event deposit a siliciclastic geochemical signal rich in fine siliciclastic sediment with organic matter, which might correspond to backwash deposits. The thickness and frequency of these sandy EWE deposits in our cores decreased from the proximal to the distal zone in the center of the lagoon, with high lateral and vertical variability in sediment thickness. The youngest EWE deposit relates to the unprecedentedly powerful Category 5 Hurricane Irma, which barely left a fine layer of sand in the lagoon, demonstrating the lagoon's resilience to tropical storms. Five of the six other EWEs, characterized by micro-CT-derived sedimentary fabric, likely originated from tsunamis and occurred over the last 3500 years BP with a recurrence interval of 300-400 years, based on radiocarbon dating. A well-studied tsunami deposit from Pre-Columbian times (similar to 400 years BP) showed oriented sedimentary fabric, which could be used for paleo-flow reconstruction and EWE-type distinction in the Lesser Antilles, suggesting the use of an additional method for identifying EWE-type deposits in the geological record rather than other methods alone. To develop effective strategies for mitigating the natural hazards faced by communities in the coastal areas of the Lesser Antilles, it will be crucial to examine EWEs in the Caribbean region beyond historic times successfully.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10502 - Oceanography

Project

—

Continuities

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Publication year

2024

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Marine Geology

ISSN

0025-3227

e-ISSN

1872-6151

Volume of the periodical

471

Issue of the periodical within the volume

107284

Country of publishing house

NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS

Number of pages

20

Pages from-to

1-20

UT code for WoS article

001299572700001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85190878596