The hydrological conditions, suspended matter concentrations and vertical par- ticulate matter flux were measured as the River Vistula flood wave (maximum discharge) was flowing into the southern part of the Gulf of Gdańsk on 26 May 2010. Extending offshore for several tens of kilometres, the river plume was well stratified, with the upper layer flowing away from the shore and the near-bottom water coastwards.
Tsunami deposits are often characterized by specific diatom assemblages, which may indicate sediment provenance and help identify paleotsunami deposits. In the present study diatom assemblages were studied in tsunami deposits left by the 2004 tsunami in Thailand, as well as in beach sediments, inner shelf marine sediments and freshwater ponds and streams. The assemblages in tsunami deposits had chaotic structure and consisted of species found in all the studied habitats, suggesting erosion of terrestrial and marine sediments by tsunami. The diatom frustules in tsunami deposits were generally rare and often damaged due to excessive wave force. The most common identified species were Amphora turgida Gregory, Cocconeis scutellum Ehrenberg, Diplomenora cocconeiformis (Schmidt) Blazé, Eunotogramma marinum (W. Smith) Peragallo (typical for benthos of marine and brackish environments), and taxa common in freshwaters, including Cyclotella ocellata Pantocsek, Cocconeis placentula Ehrenberg and Encyonema silesiacum (Bleish) D.G. Mann.
Our study presents the results of determining labile aluminium form in samples from the 2004 tsunamiaffected coastal zone of Thailand. The samples were collected from tsunami deposits, beach sediments, sediments underlying the tsunami deposits (pre 2004 tsunami soil), as well as from soils from areas, that were not flooded. The extraction of the labile form of aluminium was performed using 3 mol L⁻¹ HCl in twelve grain size fractions. In the surface layer samples the highest concentrations were determined in the tsunami deposits in fractions <0.063 mm (5850 mg kg⁻¹). The highest determined concentration in the whole set of investigated samples occurred in soil sample in fractions 0.09-0.125 mm (19770 mg kg⁻¹). An increase in concentration of labile aluminium form, along with decreasing grain diameter, was observed in samples from all the studied settings. In general, concentrations were higher in soil samples not affected by the tsunami. This is probably due to steady weathering of minerals during soil forming processes and removal of sediment grain surface coatings potentially enriched in labile Al during high energy transport by tsunami.
Heavy mineral assemblages were studied in onshore sandy deposits from the 26 December 2004 tsunami on Kho Khao Island, southern Thailand. The most common minerals included tourmalines, zircon, muscovite, biotite, limonites and opaque minerals. An abundance of micas and depletion in tourmalines allowed us to distinguish the tsunami deposits from modern beach sediments and pre-tsunami soils. Major lateral and vertical changes in the studied profiles were related to an increase in flake-shaped micas upward in the tsunami sequence as well as landward. These variations, although documented for one grain size fraction, corresponded well with changes in the grain size distributions of the whole samples. The observed changes probably reflect wave hydrodynamics and a change in the sedimentation mode from bed-load deposition to settling of the suspended load.
Three sandy beaches on Phuket and Kho Khao islands, Thailand, were monitored annually to study the short- and long-term impacts of the 2004 tsunami on their meiofauna assemblages and sediment characteristics. The sediment grain size compositions changed significantly within one year after the tsunami (improved sorting and less negatively skewed distributions), but meiofauna assemblages did not. The fast recolonization of the beaches after the tsunami confirmed that meiofauna is highly resilient to ecosystem disturbances. The tsunami was not observed to have a long-term impact on meiofaunal assemblages.
C resistivity soundings and geomorphological surveys have been carried out in the marginal zones and adjacent outwash plains of two glaciers in central Spitsbergen, Norwegian Arctic: Ebbabreen and Horbyebreen. The study has revealed complex relationships between landforms, buried glacier ice and permafrost. From this work it is possible to distinguish between moraine ridges which are ice-cored and those which are not. The latter occur in areas which have possibly been affected by glacier surge. The active layer thickness was found to be 0.4 to 2.5 m for diamicton deposits (moraines) and 0.3 to 1.6 m in outwash glacifluvial sediments. The sediment infill thickness in valleys was determined to be as much as 20 m, thereby demonstrating that sandurs have important role in sediment storage in a glacial system. Typical resistivity values for sediment types in both the active layer and in permafrost were also determined.
Twelve glaciers, representing various types, were investigated between 2000 and 2005, in a region adjacent to the northern reaches of Billefjorden, central Spitsbergen (Svalbard). On the basis of measurements taken using reference points, DGPS and GPS systems, analyses of aerial photographs and satellite images, geomorphological indicators and archival data their rates of deglaciation following the "Little Ice Age" (LIA) maximum were calculated variously on centennial, decadal and annual time scales. As most Svalbard glaciers have debris-covered snouts, a clean ice margin was measured in the absence of debris-free ice front. The retreat rates for both types of ice fronts were very similar. All studied glaciers have been retreating since the termination of the Little Ice Age at the end of 19th century. The fastest retreat rate was observed in the case of the Nordenskioldbreen tidewater glacier (mean average linear retreat rate 35 m a-1). For land-terminating glaciers the rates were in range of 5 to 15 m a-1. Presumably owing to climate warming, most of the glacier retreat rates have increased several fold in recent decades. The secondary factors influencing the retreat rates have been identified as: water depth at the grounding line in the case of tidewater glaciers, surging history, altitude, shape and aspect of glacier margin, and bedrock relief. The retreat rates are similar to glaciers from other parts of Spitsbergen. Analyses of available data on glacier retreat rates in Svalbard have allowed us to distinguish four major types: very dynamic, surging tidewater glaciers with post-LIA retreat rates of between 100 and 220 ma-1, other tidewater glaciers receding of a rate of 15 to 70 m a-1, land terminating valley polythermal glaciers with an average retreat of 10 to 20 m a-1 and small, usually cold, glaciers with the retreat rates below 10 m a-1.
Recent sediment accumulation rates in Adventfjorden (Svalbard), a small subpolar fjord, were determined by 210Pb and 137Cs dating. Modern rates in the central basin decrease downfjord from 1.87 to 0.87 cm y−1 (2.6 to 1.19 g cm−2 y−1). Comparison of the modern values (1986–2001) with older ones (1963–86) reveals a marked increase in sediment accumulation rates in the last ten years. This correlates well with recent climate changes (warming and increase in precipitation). Comparison with particulate matter flux data indicates that a portion of the sediment is passed on to Isfjorden.
This study documents seafloor morphology and sediments based on multibeam, side-scan sonar and boomer surveys, as well as sediment samples taken on the inner to mid shelf of the Andaman Sea after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Preservation of submarine relief in former underwater mining areas points to limited impact of the tsunami, while channel structures parallel to the observed tsunami backwash indicate a possible higher impact. Therefore, the tsunami impact seems to be focused on some areas. The impact was probably most effective during the backwash, when stiff mud deposits containing grass, wood fragments and shells were transported by high density backwash flows. Moreover, several boulders, which might have been deposited during the tsunami backwash flow, were found in the channels in front of Pakarang Cape.
Thirty-one metals and fifteen PAHs were examined in soils of central Spitsbergen, high Arctic. One of the world's northernmost human settlements and natural tundra were sampled to estimate the local human impact and its range. The contamination caused by local sources is significant only in the closest vicinity, and is usually at least an order of magnitude lower than European limits. The metal concentrations are closely related to bedrock geology and they are at similar levels as elsewhere in Svalbard. The long-distance transport of contaminants was not found at a significant level.
Our paper presents selected short- and long-term environmental and geological impacts of the 26 December 2004 tsunami on the Andaman Sea coast of Thailand. The tsunami inundated the coastal zone more than 1.5 km inland and above 10 m a.s.l., causing coastal erosion mainly in the nearshore zone, beaches, river mouths and peninsulas. The tsunami runup was significantly influenced by nearshore bathymetry. Almost the entire inundation zone was covered with up to 0.5 m tsunami-laid sand and silty sand layer burying former soil. The layer has not eroded during subsequent rainy seasons and probably will be preserved in the geological record. The inland waters were salinated and the tsunami deposits were enriched in salts and bioavailable heavy metals and arsenic. Most of them were mobilized during rainy season. Sandy beaches - the most tsunami damaged coastal habitat, recovered quickly after the tsunami event. Also, most of the land vegetation recovered within one year after the tsunami.
On December 26th, 2004, a tsunami hit the Andaman Sea coast of Thailand, leaving bimodal tsunami deposits in the coastal zone. Granite boulders and sandy tsunami deposits were investigated near Thap Lamu Navy Base in Phang Nga Province, Thailand. Boulders (< 2.5m³) were mostly scattered close to a tidal inlet on a flat plain elevated 1-2m above the high tide water level, reaching up to 140m inland. Most boulders had oyster shell remnants over their surface, which suggests that they were dragged from the nearby shore. The tsunami also brought a sheet of medium to coarse grained sand, with thickness ranging from a few mm up to 37cm. The distribution of deposits was mainly controlled by the existing topography. Another group of granite boulders was found between 150 and 300m from the coastline, at elevations of 2m and more. Their size reached 5.5m³. This second group of boulders may have been transported by an ancient tsunami.
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