Progress in tsunami sedimentology

Abstract

During the past 25 years, sedimentary records have formed the basis for abundant research on the history and size of paleotsunamis. Recent events such as the 2004 Indian Ocean and 2011 Tohoku-oki tsunamis have provided valuable opportunities to study the sedimentary features and processes of modern tsunami deposits. Tsunami sedimentology is now a key part of tsunami risk assessment, and it is important to provide these scientific results to governors and to the public. The expeditious contributions of geologists to disaster mitigation efforts are of vital importance as large tsunamis may be generated along Japanese coasts over the next 25 years.