Modern analogue to past coseismic ground uplift in North Andaman, India

Abstract

Dynamics of surface geological processes, triggered by coseismic ground uplift following the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake (Mw > 9.2), provide a modern analogue for assessing the paleoseismic significance of an enigmatic subsurface peat occurrence within beach sands in the western coast of North Andaman Island. The megathrust earthquake uplifted vast stretches of coastal intertidal zones to supratidal levels. As a result, intertidal flora, including mangroves, desiccated and perished. Mass mortality of the flora continued even three years after the earthquake and generated a large volume of forest debris. Coastal waves pushed the debris to the high tide line where the accumulated debris would be gradually buried, and would subsequently transform into linear peat bodies keeping a record of the seismic event in 2004. Accordingly, we have interpreted a linear strand-parallel peat occurrence in beach sand as a record of earlier mass mortality of plants likely associated with a coseismic ground uplift. Stable isotope studies indicate that local intertidal flora is the source of the peat organic matter. Moreover, the 1817 CE calibrated mean AMS radiocarbon age of the peat suggests recurrence of a megathrust earthquake in the Andaman subduction zone about 200 years ago.