Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A study on pre- and post-tsunami shallow deposits off SE coast of India from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami: a geochemical approach

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A study was made on samples from one core collected immediately after the December 2004 Asian tsunami to know the geochemical nature of the offshore tsunami sediments. The core sample was analyzed for sediment grain size, CaCO3, organic carbon (OC) and major elements (SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO, MgO, Na2O, K2O, P2O5, MnO). The results indicate that the core sample can be divided into two parts: (1) upper 0–25 cm, interpreted to be deposited after tsunami (AT), and (2) lower 25–45 cm, interpreted as before tsunami (BT) as evidenced by the sandy nature AT with fluctuating CaCO3 contents. The AT part is devoid of OC suggesting that the sediment could have been transported to deeper regions along with the finer particles. Major elements such as SiO2, TiO2, CaO indicate high values than the other elements in AT part than in the BT part. The BT part contains Al rich alluvium mud associated with finer mud and organic particles. An analysis of the correlation matrix indicates the possible source of elements and transport of heavy minerals in the AT part than the BT part. The overall results suggest that the sediments could possibly have two different origins.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bondevik S, Svendsen JI, Mangerud J (1997) Tsunami sedimentary facies deposited by the Storegga tsunami in shallow marine basins and coastal lakes, western Norway. Sedimentology 44:1115–1131. doi:10.1046/j.1365-3091.1997.d01-63.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bourgeois J, Hansen TA, Wiberg PL, Kaufmann EG (1988) A tsunami deposit at the Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary in Texas. Science 241:567–570. doi:10.1126/science.241.4865.567

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cisternas M, Contreras I, Araneda A (2000) Reconocimiento y caracterización de la facies sedimentaria depositada por el tsunami de 1960 en el estuario Maullín. Rev Geol Chil 27:3–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Cita MB, Aloisi G (2000) Deep-sea tsunami deposits triggered by the explosion of Santorini (3500 y BP), eastern Mediterranean. Sediment Geol 135:181–203. doi:10.1016/S0037-0738(00)00071-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaudette HE, Flight WR, Toner L, Folger DW (1974) An inexpensive titration method for the determination of organic carbon in recent sediments. J Sediment Petrol 44:249–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingram RL (1970) Procedures in sedimentary petrology. Wiley, New York, pp 49–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Konno E (1961) Geological observations of the Sanriku coastal region damaged by the tsunami due to the Chile earthquake in 1960. Contributions to the Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Tohoku University, vol 52, pp 1–40

  • Kryc KA, Murray RW, Murray DW (2003) Al-to-oxide and Ti-to-organic linkages in biogenic sediment: relationships to paleo-export production and bulk Al/Ti. Earth Planet Sci Lett 211:125–141. doi:10.1016/S0012-821X(03)00136-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Roux JP, Vargas G (2005) Hydraulic behavior of tsunami backflows: insights from their modern and ancient deposits. Env Geol 49(1):65–75. doi:10.1007/s00254-005-0059-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loring DH, Rantala RTT (1992) Manual for the geochemical analyses of marine sediments and suspended particulate matter. Earth Sci Rev 32:235–283. doi:10.1016/0012-8252(92)90001-A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohanachandran G, Subramanian V (1990) Texture, mineralogy and elemental composition of sediments along the southeast coast of India. Indian J Mar Sci 19:128–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagendra R, Kamalakannan BV, Sajith C, Sen G, Reddy AN, Srinivasalu S (2005) A record of foraminiferal assemblage in tsunami sediments along Nagappattinam Coast, Tamil Nadu. Curr Sci 89(11):1947–1952

    Google Scholar 

  • Nesbitt H, Young GM (1996) Petrogenesis of sediments in the absence of chemical weathering: effects of abrasion and sorting on bulk composition and mineralogy. Sedimentology 43:341–358. doi:10.1046/j.1365-3091.1996.d01-12.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nittrouer CA, Sharara MT, DeMaster DJ (1983) Variations of sediment texture on the Amazon continental shelf. J Sediment Petrol 53(1):179–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Nittrouer CA, Curtin TB, Demaster DJ (1986) Concentration and flux of suspended sediment on the Amazon continental shelf. Cont Shelf Res 6:151–174. doi:10.1016/0278-4343(86)90058-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oguri K, Matsumoto E, Yamada M, Saito Y, Iseki K (2003) Sediment accumulation rates and budgets of depositing particles of the East China Sea. Deep-Sea Res 50:513–528. doi:10.1016/S0967-0645(02)00465-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ortlieb L, Escribano R, Follegati R, Zuñiga O, Kong I, Rodríguez L, Valdés J, Guzmán N, Iratchet P (2000) Recording ocean-climate changes during the last 2000 years in a hypoxic marine environment off northern Chile (23ºS). Rev Chil Hist Nat 73:221–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarma VVB, Murty VSN, Rao DP (1990) Distribution of cyclone heat potential in the Bay of Bengal. Indian J Mar Sci 19:102–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Shanmugam G (2006) The tsunamite problem. J Sediment Res 76(5–6):718–730. doi:10.2110/jsr.2006.073

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srinivasalu S, Nagendra R, Rajalakshmi PR, Thangadurai N, Arun Kumar K, Achyuthan H (2005) Geological signatures of M9 tsunami event on the sediments of Tamil Nadu Coast. In: Ramasamy SM, Kumanan CJ (eds) Tsunami: in the Indian content, Allied Publishers, pp 171–181

  • Srinivasalu S, Thangadurai N, Switzer AD, Ram-Mohan V, Ayyamperumal T (2007) Erosion and sedimentation in Kalpakkam (N Tamil Nadu, India) from the 26th December 2004 M9 tsunami. Mar Geol 240:65–75. doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2007.02.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srinivasalu S, Thangadurai N, Jonathan MP, Armstrong-Altrin JS, Ayyamperumal T, Ram-Mohan V (2008) Evaluation of trace metal enrichments from the 26 December 2004 tsunami sediments along southeast coast of India. Env Geol 53:1711–1721. doi:10.1007/s00254-007-0777-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srinivasalu S, Rajeshwara-Rao N, Thangadurai N, Jonathan MP, Roy PD, Ram-Mohan V, Saravanan P (2009) Characteristics of 2004 tsunami deposits of northern Tamil Nadu coast, India. Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana (in press)

  • Stephen-Pichaimani V, Jonathan MP, Srinivasalu S, Rajeshwara-Rao NR, Mohan SP (2008) Enrichment of trace metals in surface sediments from northern part of Point Calimere, SE coast of India. Env Geol 55:1811–1819. doi:10.1007/s00254-007-1132-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vargas G, Ortlieb L, Pichon JJ, Bertaux J, Pujos M (2004) Sedimentary facies and high resolution primary production inferences from laminated diatomaceous sediments off northern Chile (23ºS). Mar Geol 211:79–99. doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2004.05.032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vargas G, Ortlieb L, Chapron E, Valdés J, Marquardt C (2005) Paleoseismic inferences from a high resolution marine sedimentary record in northern Chile (23ºS). Tectonophysics 399:381–398. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2004.12.031

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vasudevan V, Seetaramaswamy A (1983) Distribution of clay minerals in modern sediments of Palk Bay. Indian J Mar Sci 12:218–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Veerayya M (1972) Textural characteristics of Calangute beach sediments, Goa coast. Indian J Mar Sci 1:28–44

    Google Scholar 

  • White AF, Blum AE, Bullen TD, Vivit DV, Schulz M, Fitzpatrict J (1999) The effect of temperature on experimental and natural chemical weathering rates of granitoid rocks. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 63(19/20):3277–3291. doi:10.1016/S0016-7037(99)00250-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamazaki T, Yamaoka M, Shiki T (1989) Miocene offshore tractive current-worked conglomerates-Tsubutegaura, Chiba Peninsula, central Japan. Sediment Geol 135:231–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang SY, Jung HS, Li CX (2004) Two unique weathering regimes in the Changjiang and Huanghe drainage basins: geochemical evidence from river sediments. Sediment Geol 164:19–34. doi:10.1016/j.sedgeo.2003.08.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeh H, Chadha RK, Francis M, Katada T, Latha G, Peterson C, Raghuraman G, Singh JP (2006) Tsunami runup survey along the southeast Indian coast. Earthq Spectra 22:S173. doi:10.1193/1.2202651

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

SS thanks the CSIR and INCOIS, Government of India for their financial support. This work was carried out as a part of funded research projects from CSIR (No. 23(001)/06/EMR-II) and INCOIS (No. INCOIS/283/2007). The authors are thankful to Dr G. Janaki Raman, Scientist, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai for their help during sample collection immediately after the Tsunami. MPJ thank the support by SNI-CONACyT, Mexico.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Anna University, Chennai, 600 025, India

    S. Srinivasalu & N. Thangadurai

  2. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra y Materiales, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, Carretera Pachuca-Tulancingo Km.4.5, Pachuca, Hidalgo, 42184, México

    M. P. Jonathan

  3. Department of Geology, School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, 600 025, India

    V. Ram-Mohan

Authors
  1. S. Srinivasalu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. P. Jonathan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. N. Thangadurai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. V. Ram-Mohan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. P. Jonathan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Srinivasalu, S., Jonathan, M.P., Thangadurai, N. et al. A study on pre- and post-tsunami shallow deposits off SE coast of India from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami: a geochemical approach. Nat Hazards 52, 391–401 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-009-9385-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-009-9385-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation