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Abstract
Lagoonal sediments attributed to the main Holocene marine transgression in Strath Halladale, northern Sutherland, contain a
complex coarser layer believed to have been deposited during the tsunami associated with the Second Storegga Slide off South
West Norway. The coarser sequence is dated at between 7590 ^ 50 and 7290 ^ 50 radiocarbon years BP (65076260 cal BC
and 62286029 cal BC). Detailed stratigraphical analysis has determined a distinctive suite of sedimentary sub-units within the
coarser layer in marked contrast to the sediments, which occur above, and below. A pronounced erosional unconformity with
the underlying sediments is recorded with the base of the tsunami layer characterised by eroded material from the underlying
peat. The presence of a mixed diatom assemblage, although fragmentary, indicates a chaotic accumulation of the deposit with all
habitats represented. Variations in particle size within the sequence disclose striking similarities with those from contemporary
tsunami deposits. The run-up of the tsunami sediments is calculated at a minimum of 4.6 m. This is the rst occasion on which a
deposit of the Second Storegga Slide tsunami has been found outside the North Sea basin and indicates that the area affected by
the tsunami may have been larger than has been previously described. q 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Tsunami; Holocene; Diatoms; Sedimentology
1. Introduction
Tsunamis are seismic sea waves caused by disturbance of the sea oor during earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions or submarine landslides. These long waves
(up to 200 km) travel over the ocean at great velocity.
Within the open ocean, the wave height is low, but
upon reaching shallow water, in the vicinity of the
coastline, it becomes greatly amplied. Therefore,
the impact at the coast is often catastrophic (e.g. the
* Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: apx098@coventry.ac.uk (S. Dawson),
david.smith@coventry.ac.uk (D.E. Smith).
0025-3227/00/$ - see front matter q 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0025-322 7(00)00066-9
70
Fig. 1. Geomorphological and borehole location map of lower Strath Halladale, northern Sutherland. Inset shows the location of the study area
in northern Scotland.
71
Table 1
Radiocarbon dates from Strath Halladale. Ages in conventional radiocarbon years (1s ) and calibrated ages (cal BC, 2s )
Laboratory code
14
Calibrated age
(cal BC)
Altitude
(m OD)
Depth
(m)
Material dated
Beta-105030 (AMS)
7290 ^ 50
24.25
7.19
Peat
Beta-105031 (AMS)
7590 ^ 50
62286054
60436029
65076373
63646346
63116260
24.98
7.92
Peat
C age ^ 1s BP
72
S. Dawson, D.E. Smith / Marine Geology 170 (2000) 6979
Fig. 2. Section along lower Strath Halladale showing the sedimentary sequence examined.
73
4. Stratigraphy
The sediments have been classied into two major
facies groups based on their sedimentary characteristics. Group 1 facies incorporate the underlying and
overlying sedimentary suite, and group 2 facies
incorporate the distinctive suite of sediments within
the stratigraphy of Strath Halladale.
Group 1 facies. The facies in group 1 incorporate
intercalated peats and clastic sediments with graded
transitional facies, which represent sediments associated with long-term sea surface change (Dawson,
1999). Representative stratigraphical proles from
north to south and from east to west within the valley
are shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Organic sediments both
under- and overlie the depositional unit under
investigation. The overlying peats grade into a black
organic gyttja, which, from an analysis of the microfossils, indicates deposition within a shallow tidal
lagoon (Dawson, 1999). This quiet water sedimentation and distinct organic facies is well suited to the
identication and preservation of a contrasting sediment
body accumulated during a high-energy event.
Group 2 facies. Detailed stratigraphical analyses
were restricted to the sediments retrieved from core
SH 2, the deepest borehole undertaken in the valley.
Examination of Fig. 4 shows in detail the major
elements of the distinctive suite of sub-units contained
within the sediment. The sediment succession starts
with a pronounced erosional unconformity with the
underlying organic deposit. This is overlain by
alternating sand layers of varying particle size, and
redeposited organic material (mostly eroded peat),
from the underlying organic deposits. Some of the
74
Fig. 4. Detailed stratigraphy of coarser unit within the sediment sequence of SH 2 and the mean particle size prole in microns at 1 cm
contiguous intervals. Fining upwards sequences are shown to the right of the prole.
Total number
135
40
7
12
22
17
12
4
9
5
25
34
36
6
364
75
76
77
78
79
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