Bridging Seismology and Geomorphology: Investigations of the 2006 and 2007 Kuril Island Tsunamis
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Bridging seismology and geomorphology: investigations of the 2006 and 2007 Kuril Island tsunamis Breanyn Tiel MacInnes A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Washington 2010 Program Authorized to Offer Degree: Earth and Space Sciences University of Washington Graduate School This is to certify that I have examined this copy of a doctoral dissertation by Breanyn Tiel MacInnes and have found that it is complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the final examining committee have been made. Chair of the Supervisory Committee: ___________________________________________________ Joanne Bourgeois Reading Committee: __________________________________________________ Joanne Bourgeois __________________________________________________ Robert Weiss ___________________________________________________ Heidi B Houston Date:__________________________________ In presenting this dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the doctoral degree at the University of Washington, I agree that the Library shall make its copies freely available for inspection. I further agree that extensive copying of the dissertation is allowable only for scholarly purposes, consistent with “fair use” as prescribed in the U.S. Copyright Law. Requests for copying or reproduction of this dissertation may be referred to ProQuest Information and Learning, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346, 1-800-521-0600, to whom the author has granted “the right to reproduce and sell (a) copies of the manuscript in microform and/or (b) printed copies of the manuscript made from microform.” Signature ________________________ Date ____________________________ University of Washington Abstract Bridging seismology and geomorphology: investigations into the 2006 and 2007 Kuril Islands earthquakes and tsunamis Breanyn Tiel MacInnes Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Professor Joanne Bourgeois Earth and Space Sciences Numerous geophysical and geological observations of the 15 November 2006 and 13 January 2007 Kuril Island earthquake doublet and associated tsunamis help link earthquakes’ seismological characteristics with tsunamis’ coastal effects. Expression of the tsunamis in the central Kurils remained unknown until post-tsunami surveys in summers of 2007 and 2008. Surveyed runup in 192 locations over a distance of 600 km averaged ~10 m, maximum ~20 m. Higher runup generally occurred along steep, protruding headlands, and longer inundation distances on lower, flatter coastal plains. As often observed but rarely measured in other cases, the Kuril tsunamis were dominantly erosional, while also leaving deposits. Pre- and post-tsunami surveys, including reoccupied topographic profiles, provide confidence to attribute changes to tsunami processes, in some cases to quantify these changes. Areas with low runup (<8 m) experienced limited geomorphic change, near the shore; regions with high runup (>15 m) experienced massive erosion. Where sandy beaches existed, sheetlike tsunami deposits reached ~90% of tsunami runup and inundation. The volume of eroded sediment far outweighed the amount deposited on land in all cases studied. The tsunamis eroded the beach landward, stripped vegetation, created scours and trim lines, cut through ridges, and plucked rocks from the soil. The effects were dominantly erosive because high-relief topography accelerated tsunami outflow. Post-tsunami surveys primarily found and measured only one tsunami wrackline, indicative of the largest onshore wave, with few clues as to which tsunami formed it. Simulations of tsunamis based on published slip distributions of both earthquakes using the numerical MOST model (Method of Splitting Tsunamis) help untangle the events. These simulations suggest that the larger tsunami in most places was 2006, but that 2007 was larger on Matua and parts of Rasshua islands. The effect of slip distribution on nearfield tsunami runup was investigated using a diversity of slip-distribution inversions. The slip distribution in outer-rise earthquakes like 2007 causes less variation in runup patterns than is the case in subduction-zone earthquakes like 2006. Differences in length and width of inversions’ subfaults also affect runup patterns when these differences affect up-dip or down-dip distribution of slip. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Figures .................................................................................................................................... iii List of Tables ..................................................................................................................................... iv Chapter 1: Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 How do tsunamis affect coastal geomorphology?................................................................. 2 Can we evaluate earthquake slip distributions using nearfield observations (or vice versa)?.............................................................................................................................. 4 Overview of dissertation........................................................................................................ 6 Significance of dissertation contributions.............................................................................. 9 Chapter 2: Field survey and geological effects of the 15 November 2006 Kuril tsunami in the central Kuril Islands......................................................................................................... 12 Disclaimer.............................................................................................................................. 12 Introduction............................................................................................................................ 12 15 November 2006 and 13 January 2007 earthquakes and tsunamis.................................... 14 Neo-tectonic and geomorphic setting.................................................................................... 16 Tsunami survey methods....................................................................................................... 17 2006 or 2007?........................................................................................................................ 18 Runup observations and inundation....................................................................................... 20 Tsunami sediment transport and deposition.......................................................................... 21 Tsunami erosion..................................................................................................................... 23 Summary................................................................................................................................ 28 Chapter 3: Tsunami geomorphology: erosion and deposition from the 15 November 2006 Kuril Island tsunami.................................................................................................................. 44 Disclaimer.............................................................................................................................. 44 Introduction............................................................................................................................ 44 Background............................................................................................................................ 46 Methods................................................................................................................................. 47 Volume of erosion and deposition ........................................................................................ 48 Were all observed changes from the 2006 tsunami? ............................................................ 49 Observations.......................................................................................................................... 50 Illustrations of tsunami effects............................................................................................... 51 Sediment removal and erosional features.............................................................................. 51 Low runup........................................................................................................................ 51 High runup....................................................................................................................... 52 Sediment deposition............................................................................................................... 53 Deposition versus erosion...................................................................................................... 54 Discussion and conclusions................................................................................................... 54 Chapter 4: Using tsunami modeling and earthquake slip distributions to interpret enigmatic runup measurements of the 2006 and 2007 Kuril Island tsunamis.................................. 77 Introduction............................................................................................................................ 77 Tectonic setting...................................................................................................................... 79 Past earthquakes....................................................................................................................