TSUNAMIS IN THE GEOLOGIC RECORD

Historical tsunami and tsunami deposit data are important for assessing the tsunami hazard of a region. The past record provides clues to what might happen in the future, such as frequency of occurrence and maximum wave heights. Instrumental and even written records often do not span enough time to assess the full range of a region's tsunami hazards. Tsunamis have been reported since ancient times, but without mechanical, digital or human observation, all that remain of tsunamis occurring before records were kept are the deposits they have left behind. Historical events for which deposits have been studied provide criteria for identifying tsunami in the geologic record (ground truth). A comprehensive database of historical tsunami events and their effects has been in progress for decades, continued by present work at NGDC. Starting from a literature search undertaken by colleagues at the University of Hawaii, we extend the record of tsunami backward in time by developing a new database, one of tsunami deposit locations, their estimated age and descriptions of the deposits themselves. Events known only by proxy information are included, but flagged to highlight the absence of a physical deposit.

Use the online Global Tsunami Deposits Database to find tsunami deposit references for a given location, event or author; previous work published in your field area; deposits similar to your field area; of potential collaborators. Sort by any populated field, including event, location, region, age of deposit, author, publication type (extract information from peer reviewed publications only, if you wish), grain size, composition, presence/absence of plant material, etc. You may also download public domain documents pertinent to tsunami deposits.