Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An abrupt backreef infilling in a Holocene reef, Paraoir, Northwestern Luzon, Philippines

  • Report
  • Published:
Coral Reefs Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We describe a sudden backreef infilling at the west coast of Luzon, Philippines, which occurred after 324 ± 12 yr ago (year BP, before 1950 AD). Results of 30 230Th-dated fossil corals from the surface and 5 cores, 17–29.1 m in length, recovered from a Holocene reef at Paraoir show that the reef flat developed in two stages. The reef margin is dated at 10,256 ± 50 (2σ) yr BP at 23.9 m below mean sea level (MSL) and about 6,654 ± 29 yr BP at 3.7 m below MSL with ages increasing with depth. The reef flat was formed with sediments of 818–324 yr BP old, which do not follow an age–depth correlation. The evidence suggests that a backreef moat remained empty throughout the buildup of the reef for about 6 kyr and was filled abruptly with a 26-m-thick succession of rubble and bioclastics by an extreme wave event (EWE) after 324 ± 12 yr BP. Field evidence, historical records, and tsunami simulation suggest the EWE sedimentation was likely caused by a single severe tropical cyclone, although the possibility of tsunami is not ruled out. The Paraoir reef flat was built up in a mode different from previously reported cases of Holocene reefs.

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
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

References

  • Aliño PM (2003) Philippine coral reefs through time. Coral Reef Information Network. Philippines and Univ Philippines Mar Sci Inst, p 198

  • Baines GBK, Beveridge PK, Maragos JE (1974) Storm and island building at Funafuti Atoll, Ellice Islands. Proc 2nd Int Coral Reef Symp 2:485–496

  • Ball MM, Shinn EA, Stockman KW (1967) The geologic effects of Hurricane Donna in south Florida. J Geol 75:583–597

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bautista MLP, Oike K (2000) Estimation of the magnitudes and epicenters of Philippine historical earthquakes. Tectonophysics 317:137–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blanchon P, Jones B, Kalbfleisch W (1997) Anatomy of a fringing reef around Grand Cayman: Storm rubble, not coral framework. J Sediment Res 67:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Braithwaite CJR, Montaggioni LF, Camoin GF, Dalmasso H, Dullo WC, Mangini A (2000) Origins and development of Holocene coral reefs: A revisited model based on reef boreholes in the Seychelles, Indian Ocean. Int J Earth Sci 89:431–445

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cabioch G, Montaggioni LF, Faure G, Ribaud-Laurenti A (1999) Reef coralgal assemblages as recorders of paleobathymetry and sea level changes in the Indo-Pacific province. Quaternary Sci Rev 18:1681–1695

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng H, Edwards RL, Hoff J, Gallup CD, Richards DA, Asmersom Y (2000) The half-lives of uranium-234 and thorium-230. Chem Geol 169:17–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chu PC, Cheng KF (2008) South China sea wave characteristics during Typhoon Muifa passage in winter 2004. J Oceanogr 64:1–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dominey-Howes D (2007) Geological and historical records of tsunami in Australia. Mar Geol 239:99–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fabricius KE, De’ath G, Poutinen ML, Done T, Cooper TF, Burgess SC (2008) Disturbance gradients on inshore and offshore coral reefs caused by a severe tropical cyclone. Limnol Oceanogr 53:690–704

    Google Scholar 

  • Frohlich C, Hornbach MJ, Taylor FW, Shen C-C, Moala A, Morton AE, Kruger J (2009) Huge erratic boulders in Tonga deposited by a prehistoric tsunami. Geology 37:131–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goff J, Chagué-Goff C, Dominey-Howes D, McAdoo B, Cronin S, Bonté-Grapetin M, Nichol S, Horrocks M, Cisternas M, Lamarche G, Pelletier B, Jaffe B, Dudley W (2011) Palaeo-tsunamis in the Pacific islands. Earth-Sci Rev 107:141–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goto K, Miyagi K, Kawamata H, Imamura F (2010) Discrimination of boulders deposited by tsunami and storm waves at Ishigaki Island, Japan. Mar Geol 269:34–45

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hopley D, Smithers SG, Parnell KE (2007) The geomorphology of the Great Barrier Reef: Development, diversity, and changes. Cambridge University Press, p 532

  • Hubbard DK (1992) Hurricane-induced sediment transport in open-shelf tropical systems : An example from St. Croix, U.S Virgin Islands. J Sediment Petrol 62:946–960

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaffey AH, Flynn KF, Glendenin LE, Bentley WC, Essling AM (1971) Precision measurement of half-lives and specific activities of U-235 and U-238. Phys Rev 4:1889–1906

    Google Scholar 

  • Kayanne H, Yamano H, Randall RH (2002) Holocene sea-level changes and barrier reef formation on an oceanic island, Palau Islands, western Pacific. Sediment Geol 150:47–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelletat D, Scheffers A, Scheffers SR (2004) Holocene tsunami deposits on the Bahaman Islands of Long Island and Eleuthera. Z Geomorphol 48:519–540

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy DM, Woodroffe CD (2000) Holocene lagoonal sedimentation at the latitudinal limits of reef growth, Lord Howe Island, Tasman Sea. Mar Geol 169:287–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy DM, Woodroffe CD (2002) Fringing reef growth and morphology: A review. Earth-Sci Rev 57:255–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kortekaas S, Dawson AG (2007) Distinguishing tsunami and storm deposits: An example from Martinhal, SW Portugal. Sediment Geol 200:208–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu PLF, Cho YS, Yoon SB, Seo SN (1994) Numerical simulations of the 1960 Chilean tsunami propagation and inundation at Hilo, Hawaii. In: El-Sabh MI (ed) Recent development in tsunami research. Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, the Netherlands, pp 99–115

  • Liu PLF, Wang X, Salisbury AJ (2009) Tsunami hazard and early warning system in South China Sea. J Asian Earth Sci 36:2–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macintyre IG, Glynn PW, Steneck RS (2001) A classic Caribbean algal ridge, Holandés Cays, Panama: An algal coated storm deposit. Coral Reefs 20:95–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maeda Y, Siringan FP (2004) Atlas of Holocene notches and the coral reef terraces of the Philippine Islands (I). National Humanity Activities 8:97–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Megawati K, Shaw F, Sieh K, Huang Z-H, Wu T-R, Lin Y-N, Tan SK, Pan T-C (2009) Tsunami hazard from the subduction megathrust of the South China Sea: Part I. Source characterization and the resulting tsunami. J Asian Earth Sci 36:13–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montaggioni LF (2005) History of Indo-Pacific coral reef systems since the last glaciation: Development patterns and controlling factor. Earth Sci Rev 71:1–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) (2001) Tide and current tables Philippines 2001. Oceanography Division, Coast and Geodetic Survey, NAMRIA, Manila p 256

    Google Scholar 

  • Nott J, Hayne M (2001) High frequency of super-cyclones along the Great Barrier Reef over the past 5,000 years. Nature 413:508–512

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Okada Y (1986) Surface deformation due to shear and tensile faults in a half-space. Bull Seismol Soc Am 75:1135–1154

    Google Scholar 

  • Okal EA, Synolakis CE, Kalligeris N (2011) Tsunami simulations for regional sources in the South China and adjoining seas. Pure Appl Geophys 168:1153–1173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ou SH, Liau JM, Hsu TW, Tzang SY (2002) Simulating typhoon waves by SWAN wave model in coastal waters of Taiwan. Ocean Eng 29:947–971

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Purdy EG, Gischler E (2005) The transient nature of the empty bucket model of reef sedimentation. Sediment Geol 175:35–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramos NT, Tsutsuni H (2010) Evidence of large prehistoric offshore earthquakes deduced from uplifted Holocene marine terraces in Pangasinan Province, Luzon Island, Philippines. Tectonophysics 495:145–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasser M, Riegl B (2002) Holocene coral reef rubble and its binding agents. Coral Reefs 21:57–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Repetti WC (1946) Catalogue of Philippine earthquakes, 1589–1899. Bull Seismol Soc Am 36:133–319

    Google Scholar 

  • Ribera P, Garcia-Herrera R, Gimeno L (2008) Historical deadly typhoons in the Philippines. Weather 63:194–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saderra Masó M (1910) Catalogue of violent and destructive earthquakes in the Philippines 1599–1909. Manila Central Observatory, Weather Bureau, Department of The Interior, p 27

  • Scheffers SR, Scheffers A, Browne T, Haviser J (2009) Tsunamis, hurricanes, the demise of coral reefs and shifts in prehistoric human populations in the Caribbean. Quaternary Int 195:69–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schlager W (1993) Accommodation and supply—a dual control on stratigraphic sequence. Sediment Geol 86:111–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scoffin TP (1993) The geological effects of hurricanes on coral reefs and the interpretation of storm deposits. Coral Reefs 12:203–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Selga M (1935) Charts of remarkable typhoons in the Philippines 1902–1934. Catalogue of typhoons 1348–1934. Manila Weather Bureau, Manila, p 55

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen C-C, Edwards RL, Cheng H, Dorale JA, Thomas RB, Moran SB, Weinstein SE, Hirschmann M (2002) Uranium and thorium isotopic and concentration measurements by magnetic sector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Chem Geol 185:165–178

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shen C-C, Cheng H, Edwards RL, Moran SB, Edmonds HN, Hoff JA, Thomas RB (2003) Measurement of attogram quantities of 231Pa in dissolved and particulate fractions of seawater by isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectroscopy. Anal Chem 75:1075–1079

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shen C-C, Li K-S, Sieh K, Natawidjaja D, Cheng H, Wang X, Edwards RL, Lam DD, Hsieh Y-T, Fan T-Y, Meltzner AJ, Taylor FW, Quinn TM, Chiang H-W, Kilbourne KH (2008) Variation of initial 230Th/232Th and limits of high precision U–Th dating of shallow-water corals. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 72:4201–4223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shen C-C, Wu C-C, Cheng H, Edwards RL, Hsieh Y-T, Gallet S, Chang C-C, Li T-Y, Lam DD, Kano A, Hori M, Spötl C (2012) High-precision and high-resolution carbonate 230Th dating by MC-ICP-MS with SEM protocols. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 99:71–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Shoemaker DN (1991) Characteristics of tropical cyclones affecting the Philippine Islands. Naval Oceanography Command Center/Joint Typhoon Warning Center Technical Note 91–1:1–35

  • Smith BT, Frankel E, Jell JS (1998) Lagoonal sedimentation and development of Heron Reef, southern Great Barrier Reef Province. In: Camoin CF, Davies PJ (eds) Reefs and carbonate platforms in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, International Association of Sedimentologists Special Publication 27:281–294

  • Wang X, Liu PLF (2006) An analysis of 2004 Sumatra earthquake fault plane mechanisms and Indian Ocean tsunami. J Hydraul Res 44:147–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wiegel RL (1980) Tsunamis along west coast of Luzon, Philippines. In: Proceedings of the 17th Coastal Engineering Conference, The American Society of Civil Engineers 1:652–671

  • Wu T-R, Huang H-C (2009) Modeling tsunami hazards from Manila trench to Taiwan. J Asian Earth Sci 36:21–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu T-R, Chen P-F, Tsai W-T, Chen G-Y (2008) Numerical study on tsunami excited by 2006 Pingtung earthquake doublet. Terrestrial, Atmospheric Ocean Sci 19:705–715

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wysession ME, Okal EA, Miller KL (1991) Intraplate seismicity of the Pacific Basin, 1913–1988. Pure Appl Geophys 135:261–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamano H (2000) Sensitivity of reef flats and reef islands to sea-level change. Proc 9th Int Coral Reef Symp 2:1193–1198

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamano H, Kayanne H, Yonekura N (2001) Anatomy of a modern coral reef flat: a recorder of storms and uplift in the Late Holocene. J Sediment Res 71:295–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yen YT, Ma KF (2011) Source-scaling relationship for M 4.6–8.9 earthquakes, specifically for earthquakes in the collision zone of Taiwan. Bull Seismol Soc Am 101:464–481

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by NSC grant 97-2116-M-178-003 and 98-2116-M-178-004 to SYG. 230Th dating at the HISPEC was supported by the NSC and NTU grants 99-2611-M-002-006 and 99-2628-M-002-012, 100-2116-M-002-009, and 102R7625 to CCS. The authors thank the municipal government of Balaoan, La Union, for granting the drilling permit and Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University for field accommodation. The authors thank Dr. Y. Maeda, Dr. C.F. Dai, and Dr. G.S. Burr for valuable discussions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, National Museum of Natural Science, Taichung, 40419, Taiwan, ROC

    Shou-Yeh Gong

  2. Institute of Hydrological and Oceanic Sciences, National Central University, Jhongli City, 32001, Taiwan, ROC

    Tso-Ren Wu

  3. Marine Science Institute, University of Philippines, 1101, Quezon City, Philippines

    Fernando P. Siringan

  4. High-Precision Mass Spectrometry and Environment Change Laboratory (HISPEC), Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan, ROC

    Ke Lin & Chuan-Chou Shen

Authors
  1. Shou-Yeh Gong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tso-Ren Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fernando P. Siringan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ke Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chuan-Chou Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chuan-Chou Shen.

Additional information

Communicated by Geology Editor Prof. Bernhard Riegl

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gong, SY., Wu, TR., Siringan, F.P. et al. An abrupt backreef infilling in a Holocene reef, Paraoir, Northwestern Luzon, Philippines. Coral Reefs 32, 293–303 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-012-0982-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-012-0982-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation