Unearthing earthquakes and their tsunamis using multiple proxies: the 22 June 1932 event and a probable fourteenth-century predecessor on the Pacific coast of Mexico

作者:Ramirez Herrera Maria Teresa*; Corona Nestor; Lagos Marcelo; Cerny Jan; Goguitchaichvili Avto; Goff James; Chague Goff Catherine; Luisa Machain Maria; Zawadzki Atun; Jacobsen Geraldine; Carranza Edwards Arturo; Lozano Socorro; Blecher Lindsey
来源:International Geology Review, 2014, 56(13): 1584-1601.
DOI:10.1080/00206814.2014.951977

摘要

Tsunami deposits have been widely studied in temperate latitudes, but the intrinsic difficulties associated with tropical coastal environments, and the intensity of bioturbation in these habitats, limit the possibilities of analysing these formations. Here, we investigate the deposits on the Colima coast of Mexico, which overlies the subducting Rivera and Cocos Plates, in order to reconstruct the tsunami inundation history and related hazard. We developed a multi-proxy study aimed to recognize and date historical and palaeotsunami deposits, including historical data on the effects of a known tsunami, geomorphological mapping, stratigraphic, grain size, organic matter content, diatoms, geochemical composition, magnetic susceptibility, and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility, together with radiometric dating (Pb-210 and C-14). We identified two probable tsunami deposits at Palo Verde estuary including a historical event associated with the Mw 6.9 earthquake on 22 June 1932 and a palaeotsunami most likely generated by a similar event in the fourteenth century. This work shows that it is possible to identify both historical and palaeotsunamis in the tropical environment of Mexico%26apos;s Pacific coast. These data will serve to enhance our understanding of tsunami deposits in tropical environments and of the regional tsunami hazard.

  • 出版日期2014-10-3