Abstract
Field surveys were conducted in March 2005 and December 2008 in southwestern Thailand to investigate local variation in the thickness and preservation potential of onshore deposits formed by the 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The 2008 survey results revealed that the thickness of deposits varies by a few centimeters in pits located less than 10 m apart because of local undulation of the topography and possible bioturbation. At 13 among all 24 sites, the difference in thickness during 2005 and 2008 surveys was within the range of local variation. In fact, very thin tsunami deposits with 1 cm thickness in the 2005 survey were well preserved during the 2008 survey. Furthermore, tsunami deposits near the maximum inundation limit were found in the 2008 survey, with thicknesses that are consistent with those reported from the 2005 survey. At no site was a tsunami deposit eliminated completely. Based on these observations, we infer that the tsunami deposit thickness is well preserved, even in a tropical climate with heavy rains such as that of Thailand.
Highlights
On 26 December 2004, one of the largest tsunamis in human history (the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami (IOT)) struck coastal areas of countries surrounding the Indian Ocean
Our results reported for the 2008 survey include the following errors and uncertainties, which might affect the interpretation of the local variation and preservation potential of the tsunami deposits: (1) natural disturbances, (2) human activities, (3)
Naruse et al (2010) studied the variation of the sedimentary features and the thickness of the tsunami deposit at Thailand by observing a 2.5 m wide trench. They found that the thickness varies a few centimeters within the trench. Such very local variation in thickness might result from local undulation of the topography or local bottom erosion by the tsunami, etc. (Naruse et al, 2010). 5.2 Implications for the preservation potential of the tsunami deposits As explained above, investigation of the preservation potential of the tsunami deposits is hampered by technical problems and local variation of the tsunami deposits
Summary
On 26 December 2004, one of the largest tsunamis in human history (the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami (IOT)) struck coastal areas of countries surrounding the Indian Ocean. The tsunami brought many severe consequences, including human injury and death, damage to buildings, coastal erosion, and degradation of marine and coastal ecosystems. The tsunami removed sediments from the sea bottom and beaches, and transported them landward and/or seaward. Severe coastal erosion occurred in those Indian Ocean countries (Kench et al, 2006; Choowong et al, 2009; Goto et al, 2011). Fisheries and agricultural areas were damaged severely by seawater inundation or by burial under salty sediments Many researchers have examined tsunami deposits formed by the 2004 IOT
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