A review on criteria for tsunami deposits recognition in shallow marineand coastal lowlands from geological records

Abstract

The papers which include recognitions of sandy tsunami deposits are compiled to review the criteria used by authors to distinguish tsunami deposits. They are classified as follows; (1) wider distribution of sand layers, (2) agreement with historical tsunami events, (3) sedimentary structures, (4) coincidence to tectonic uplift/subsidence, (5) grain components peculiar to tsunami. It is important to describe modern tsunami deposits for appropriate recognition of paleotsunami deposits, but we need to consider the preservational possibility and the different coastal conditions between modern and past. For the present there is no single almighty criteria so combinations of several criteria is necessary depending on sedimentary conditions.