Cascadia Tsunami Deposit Database

Frequently-anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

1. How should this data set be cited?

   United States Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology (CMG), Robert Peters, USGS, CMG, Pacific Science Center, Bruce Jaffe, USGS, CMG, Pacific Science Center, Guy Gelfenbaum, USGS, CMG, Western Region Service Cen, and Curt Peterson, Department of Geology, Portland State Univ, 2003, Cascadia Tsunami Deposit Database .

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -130.0

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -116.0

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 52.0

   South_Bounding_Coordinate:

   36.0

3. What does it look like?

4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Beginning_Date: 1987

   Ending_Date: 2002

   Currentness_Reference:

   publication date

5. What is the general form of this data set?

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   location -The name of the location where the tsunami deposits are located, including state. The name may refer to the nearest easily recognized place name, such as a town, a body of water, or other geographic feature.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   catalog # - The catalogue number is an arbitrary number associated with each row entry. It may be used to refer to the entry or access the entry at a later date.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   site # - The site number is assigned in an ascending order based on latitude. The northernmost site in the database is assigned the number 1 and site number increases as the latitude of the site decreases. The site number of the southernmost site gives the total number of sites in the database.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   core/section/secondary location - Where individual cores at a site are listed separately, the core number is given here. If no core number is given in the publication, a number is assigned. If the author divides a site into sections or secondary locations, their designations are given here. If no designation is given, one is assigned.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   latitude and longitude - Latitudes and Longitudes reported by the authors are used when possible, otherwise they are measured from large-scale maps. Latitude and longitude are reported in decimal degrees.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   depositional setting - Depositional setting for tsunami sedimentation, such as lake, coastal marsh, freshwater marsh, etc.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   inundation distance, physiographic setting, and inundation reference - Inundation distance for open coastal settings is the maximum distance inland, normal to the shoreline, inundated by the tsunami. However, in other physiographic settings, the term inundation distance is subject to interpretation and the definition may change depending on the focus of the study. In a large bay or estuary, which may extend several kilometers inland from the open coast, a tsunami may propagate up a bay or even be focused by the bay. A tsunami that has a relatively small inundation distance in an open coastal setting or along a cliffed coast may travel several kilometers up a river or estuary. An inundation distance of 3 km when the site is located on a marshy riverbank does not suggest that the tsunami would inundate 3 km inland on the open coast. Therefore, when considering inundation distance, it is important to note the physiographic setting and the reference point from which inundation distance is measured. When known, the reference point for measuring the inundation distance is given (inundation reference)."Open coast" means the inundation distance is measured normal to the trend of the shoreline. This usually applies to lakes and back-barrier marshes in open coastal settings. When warranted, a more specific reference may be given. "River mouth" means the distance is measured from the mouth of the river or estuary, perpendicular to the trend of the coast at the river mouth. "Up river" means the distance up a river or estuary and will not necessarily be in a strait line but will follow the coarse of the river. Bayshore means perpendicular to the trend of the shore within a bay. When "bayshore" is added to river descriptions it means the distance is measured from the mouth of a river that flows into a bay. Fjords are treated like open coastal settings unless specifically referred to as a river or estuary. When a more specific term is required for clarification or if the inundation reference is not clear from the authors description, the authors words may be added or substituted for the above descriptions. For a paleotsunami, the maximum inundation distances reported in the literature usually represent a minimum estimate. The reports are minimum estimates because the full extent of deposits may not be preserved in the geologic record and workable outcrop or coring sites may not extend the full length of the deposit. There is additional uncertainty in determining inundation distances for paleotsunami deposits because the locations of paleoshorelines are rarely known. The study of modern tsunami deposits suggests that actual inundation by a tsunami may extend a short distance beyond the limit of deposition and that deposits may be discontinuous near the limit of inundation.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Nishimura and Miyaji, 1995

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   elevation(mamsl) - the present elevation of a site, in meters above present mean sea level. For a paleotsunami site, both the elevation of the site and mean sea level at the time of the tsunami may have been different than at present.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   barrier elevation (mamsl) - the elevation of a barrier a tsunami must have crossed to leave a deposit at the site, in meters above mean sea level. As with elevation above, we report the modern elevation.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   observation/sampling method - method used in collecting data, such as observation from an outcrop or core, and, for cores, the type of coring device used (if specified in the citation).

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   # cores/sampling localities - The number of cores or sampling localities at a site.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   # events documented (tsunami + subsidence) - The number of subsidence events associated with great earthquakes on the CSZ, whether or not they are associated with tsunamis. Tsunamis not associated with coseismic subsidence are also included. The number of coseismic events present at a site is an important tool to help correlate tsunami deposits.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   # tsunami events documented at site - the number of tsunami events documented at a site.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   subsidence present? (y/n) - Are the tsunami deposits associated with coseismic subsidence?

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   # subsidence events documented at site - the number of Subsidence events associated with great earthquakes on the CSZ documented at a site.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   # of tsunami deposits associated with subsidence - the number of tsunami deposits at a site that are associated with coseismic subsidence.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   # of tsunami deposits not associated with subsidence - the number of tsunami deposits at a site that are not associated with coseismic subsidence.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   event # - number assigned to event at a site (tsunami or subsidence), from youngest to oldest. Numbers are site - specific and do not imply correlation with events having the same number at a different site.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   tsunami event # - number assigned to tsunami deposit at a site, from youngest to oldest.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   subsidence event # - the number assigned to subsidence event at a site, from youngest to oldest.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   amount of subsidence (m) - the amount of coseismic subsidence reported.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   age (rcybp) - age of deposit in radiocarbon years before present. Ages reported are those of the authors and are usually reported relative to 1950. Ages reported in rcybp need to be calibrated before they can accurately represent the age of the deposit.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Stuvier and Pearson, 1986; 1993

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   age range (cybp) - The range of possible ages in calendar years before present. Following the convention of Stuvier and Pearson (1986, 1993), present is taken to be AD1950. Age ranges reported are those of the authors, though for consistency, we have converted ages reported as a date or relative to a date other than 1950 (such as 2000) to years before 1950. Age ranges in calendar years are calibrated using tree ring dendrochronology and take into account errors reported by the lab, errors in the calibration curve, reproducibility, etc..

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Stuvier and Pearson, 1986; 1993

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   correlated date - If the deposit is correlated by the author to a known or accepted event (such as the 1964 Alaska earthquake and tsunami or the 1700 Cascadia event), the correlated date is given here.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   age method/comments - Method used to determine the age of the deposits. The age reported represents a maximum age for the deposits. Material dated is usually organic material within the deposit or from the underlying peat layer and may include material that was dead prior to the tsunami or reworked material. Material in growth position or fragile material within the tsunami deposit often provides the most accurate dates. If a series of dates are given from material within or underlying the deposit, the youngest date is reported. Unless noted otherwise, dates reported here use conventional radiocarbon methods (CO2 gas proportional counting, liquid scintillation). Dates calculated using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) are noted. Additional notes concerning the age or dating of the deposit is included here.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   thickness (cm) - The reported thickness of the tsunami deposit, inclusive of all layers present. Thickness is not constant in tsunami deposits. Thinning of the deposit landward and away from channels often characterizes tsunami deposits. Different authors report thickness in different ways. Sometimes thickness is reported as an average thickness or representative thickness, other times only a local thickness is reported. Other times a range of thicknesses is reported.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   maximum thickness (cm) - If a maximum thickness is reported independent of the average, representative, or range of thicknesses, it is reported here.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   geometry - description of gradients in thickness (landward thinning, etc.) and continuity of the deposit.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   # layers - tsunami deposits often have distinct layering in them. Layers may be defined by sand-mud couplets, heavy mineral layers, organic horizons, etc. The number of layers within a tsunami deposit is reported here.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   layer thickness (cm) - the thickness of individual layers is reported here.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   layer characteristics - specific characteristics of individual layers, such as defining characteristics, texture, grading, etc. are reported here.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   underlying material, overlying material - description of the material underlying and overlying the deposit.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   lower contact, upper contact - description of the contacts bounding the tsunami deposit. Contacts are often characterized as either abrupt (< 0.1 cm), sharp (0.1 cm - 0.5 cm), or gradual (>0.5 cm), but some authors use other terms, such as mantled, erosive, irregular, gradational, etc. More detail is given when provided in the reference.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   grain size range - The size range of sand grains found in the deposit in units of phi (f), where f = -log2 of the grain diameter (in millimeters) (Krumbein, 1938). This usually is a typical range for the deposit. The presence of clay, silt or gravel may not be reflected in this statistic. The grain size range stated in the database is taken directly from the reference whenever possible. In the literature, grain size range is often given in units other than phi. When grain size range is given in millimeters or using standard terminology from the Udden-Wentworth grain-size scale (Udden, 1914, Wentworth, 1922), grain size range is interpreted using the following conversions: very coarse sand = 1.000 - 2.000 mm = 0.0 - -1.0 phi; coarse sand = 0.500 - 1.000 mm = 1.0 - 0.0 phi; medium sand = 0.250 - 0.500 mm = 2.0 - 1.0 phi; fine sand = 0.125 - 0.250 mm = 3.0 - 2.0 phi; very fine sand = 0.062 - 0.125 mm = 4.0 - 3.0 phi

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   grain size distribution - The distribution of grain sizes within a deposit

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   grain size description - Prose description of grain size within a deposit. The authors original words are given here whenever possible.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   horizontal textural gradient - describes grain size changes in the horizontal direction, such as landward fining or fining away from the channel.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   grading - grading describes textural changes in the vertical direction within a layer. Normal grading refers to fining upwards. Inverse grading refers to coarsening upwards.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   sorting - sorting is a measure of the variability of the grain sizes in the deposit and is usually characterized from well sorted (little variability) to poorly sorted (large variability). More quantitative statistical measures have not generally been reported in the Cascadia tsunami deposit literature.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Folk, 1980

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   other sedimentary structures or properties - miscellaneous sedimentary properties that characterize the deposit or grains within the deposit. The authors original words are given here whenever possible.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   composition - describes the mineralogical composition of the sediment grains in the deposit. Composition may be reported as specific minerals, percentages or presence of quartz, feldspar, and lithics (QFL), or other more general descriptions provided by the authors. Composition may provide clues to the source of the grains in the deposit.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   inclusions - material other than sediment grains in a deposit, including plant material, shells or other macrofossils, artifacts, etc.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   flow direction - gives the direction of flow indicated by the deposit. Flow direction indicators within the deposit may give either general (landward/seaward) or specific directions. Flow direction indicators include sedimentary structures and oriented inclusions such as flopovers (rooted plant material bent over by the tsunami).

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   microfossils - Microfossils, including forams and diatoms, may provide evidence for an ocean or coastal source for sediments in the deposit and therefore are a useful tool for identifying tsunami deposits. Microfossils may also provide evidence for the amount of coseismic subsidence that occurred during a subduction zone earthquake.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   chemical evidence - describes any chemical evidence that the deposit is from a tsunami.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   comments/additional descriptions - other information pertaining to the tsunami deposits, site, or publication that does not fit into the other categories is reported here.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   reference - citing for reference that provided the data by author and year. Complete citing is listed in the reference section of this report and on the references worksheet in the database.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   reference type - references are categorized as (1) journal: an article published for the scientific community in a major journal. Journal articles are usually subject to peer review and usually provide the most dependable data. (2) abstract: a short non- or minimally reviewed article usually prepared for a conference. Abstracts often present preliminary conclusions, give little detail, and, do to the lack of rigorous review, generally provide less dependable data. (3) often more detailed than an abstract and published in a conference proceedings volume, may or may not be subject to peer review. (4) theses: - Theses are scientific works completed by a M.S. or Ph.D. student as part of their degree. (5) USGS professional papers: detailed and peer-reviewed papers published by the U.S Geological Survey. When these supercede a USGS open-file report, the open file report is not included in the database.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview: reference date - date of reference publication

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   map - reference map covering location of site. USGS 7.5 minute quadrangles are used for locations in the United States. National Topographic System (NTS) 1:50,000 maps published by Energy, Mines and Resources, Canada are used for locations in Canada.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Unknown

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • United States Geological Survey (USGS), Coastal and Marine Geology (CMG)
   • Robert Peters, USGS, CMG, Pacific Science Center
   • Bruce Jaffe, USGS, CMG, Pacific Science Center
   • Guy Gelfenbaum, USGS, CMG, Western Region Service Center
   • Curt Peterson, Department of Geology, Portland State University

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   United States Geological Survey (USGS), Coastal and Marine Geology (CMG)
   c/o Guy Gelfenbaum
   USGS, MailStop 999, 345 Middlefield Road
   Menlo Park, CA 94025-3561
   USA
   

   (650) 329-5483 (voice)
   (650) 329-5198 (FAX)
   ggelfenbaum@usgs.gov
   

Why was the data set created?

Introduction - The Cascadia Tsunami Deposit Database is a compilation of published data on the location and sedimentary characteristics of tsunami deposits found along the Cascadia margin. It consolidates data from the earliest published reports on Cascadia tsunami deposits (e.g. Atwater, 1987, Reinhart and Bourgeois, 1987) to studies published or in press by the year 2002. This database and associated report is intended as a guide to the sedimentary features that characterize Cascadia tsunami deposits and to the locations where tsunami deposits have been found along the Cascadia margin. It also provides references for all of the tsunami deposits cited. The Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) is situated off of the Pacific Northwest coast of North America, from Northern California to Vancouver Island, British Columbia (Figure 1). Great earthquakes (m > 8.0) on subduction zones have the potential to trigger large tsunamis. While not all subduction zones generate great earthquakes, it is believed that the CSZ has the potential to generate great earthquakes. The CSZ shares many features with other subduction zones that experience great earthquakes (Heaton and Kanamori, 1984). Geologic evidence for great earthquakes along the CSZ include turbidites off the Cascadia margin (Adams, 1990) and stratigraphic evidence of sudden coastal subsidence (e.g. Atwater et al., 1995, Nelson and Peronius, 1996). Although no great earthquakes have occurred on the CSZ since European colonization of the Pacific Northwest in the mid 1800s, an Indian oral tradition from the Pacific Northwest predating written records alludes to great shaking of the earth and coastal flooding (Heaton and Snavely, 1985, Clague, 1995). Geologic evidence for large tsunamis along the Cascadia margin has only recently been recognized. Atwater (1987) published a report attributing anomalous sand layers in marsh sediments from southern coastal Washington to tsunamis generated by great earthquakes on the CSZ. Since this time, more than 50 studies have been published, documenting numerous sites containing confirmed or potential tsunami deposits and detailing deposit characteristics along the Pacific Northwest coast from Northern California to Vancouver Island, British Columbia (Figure 2). This rapid increase in our knowledge of Cascadia tsunami deposits has led to a greater public awareness of tsunami hazards, and improved our ability to assess the risk from future tsunamis. Data from tsunami deposits have been included on tsunami inundation maps (e.g. Walsh et al., 2000). Tsunami deposits are a key component to the recognition and mitigation of tsunami hazards in the Pacific Northwest.

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: Unknown (process 1 of 1)

   Identification of CSZ Tsunami Deposits - The studies cited in the database use a variety of sedimentary features to identify tsunami deposits in outcrops and cores. Preliminary identification of tsunami deposits is often based on the recognition of anomalous layers of sand in environments where the deposition of sand layers is unusual, such as coastal marshes or lakes (Reinhart and Bourgeois, 1987). Tsunamis can transport sand, cobbles, boulders and debris from offshore and from beaches and deposit it over coastal lowlands (Dawson, 1994). However, other energetic processes, such as river flooding or storm surges, may leave sandy deposits in otherwise low-energy environments (Nelson et al., 1996). Key sedimentary characteristics of the deposit are often cited to confirm a tsunami origin for the sand layer. While no single characteristic may universally be used to distinguish a tsunami deposit, the combination of several characteristics are often used to rule out other processes and leave little or no doubt as to a tsunami origin for the deposit. Tsunami deposits may be distinguished from river deposits by distinct biological markers, spatial distribution, sediment characteristics and geochemistry. The presence of marine or brackish water macro- and microfossils is used to infer a marine rather than river source for the deposit (Hemphill-Haley, 1995). Thinning and fining of the deposit landward are often used to suggest a marine surge rather than a river source for the deposit (Atwater, 1987; Benson et al., 1997). Flop-overs, which consist of the leaves and stems of herbaceous plants bent over by the flow, preserve information about flow direction and may indicate a landward-directed flow, suggesting a marine source (Atwater and Hemphill-Haley, 1997). The composition and texture of the sand grains has been used to differentiate between a coastal or upriver source (Darienzo and Peterson, 1990; Peterson and Darienzo, 1996). Geochemical indicators, such as bromine enrichment, have also been used to indicate a marine source for the deposit (Schlichting, 2000). Storm surge deposits are more difficult to distinguish from tsunami deposits because, similar to tsunami deposits, they also contain marine or brackish water macro- and microfossils, have saltwater chemistry, and thin and fine landward (Nelson et al., 1996). Some studies use distance inland to indicate a tsunami source, arguing that it is not likely that storm waves or a storm surge could deposit sand inland to the extent of the deposit (Clague et al., 2000). Reinhart (1991) argues that in protected tidal channels, storms are unlikely to suspend the volume of sediment necessary to produce the deposits observed. When layers are present, their number and thickness are sometimes used to differentiate between a tsunami and storm deposit (Williams and Hutchinson, 2000, Witter, in press). Tsunami deposits tend to have several relatively thick normally graded beds, suggesting deposition from suspension by successive waves in the tsunami wave train, while storm deposits may be expected to have thinner and more numerous laminations from higher frequency but lower energy storm waves (Nelson et al., 1996b). Abramson (1998) uses the presence of rip-up clasts in the deposit to indicate the higher energy deposition of a tsunami. Association of the sand layer with paleoseismicity is often used to link a sand layer to a tsunami source. Coseismic coastal subsidence may accompany great subduction zone earthquakes (Atwater, 1996). Association of the sand layer with evidence of coseismic subsidence is often key to the identification of the sand layer as a tsunami deposit (Atwater, 1987, Darienzo and Peterson, 1990). This is usually seen as a buried soil or layer of peat, representing a marsh surface that formed above the reach of high tide, abruptly overlain by a layer of sand (the tsunami deposit), which is then overlain by tidal flat mud. Linking a sand layer to liquifaction features also may tie a potential tsunami deposit to a seismic event (Atwater, 1992). The presence of stems of herbaceous plants in growth position within the deposit is used to indicate approximate coincidence of deposition of the sand layer with submergence of the marsh surface (Atwater, 1992). Deposit geometry and the number of sand layers present in a core or outcrop are sometimes used to differentiate between a deposit produced by a tsunami from a great earthquake on the CSZ and one left by a tsunami with a distant source. Carver et al. (1996) proposed using deposit extent and thickness to differentiate CSZ tsunamis from distant tsunamis by comparing them to deposits left by historic distant tsunamis. Witter (2001) uses the estimated 500-540 year average recurrence interval for great CSZ earthquakes (Atwater and Hemphill Haley, 1997) to suggest that at least two out of four sand layers in a 600 year interval were deposited by distant tsunamis or storm surges. In lake deposits, the source of the tsunami (local or distant) may not be evident in the sediments (Clague, 1997).

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   United States Geological Survey (USGS), Coastal and Marine Geology (CMG)
   c/o Robert Peters
   Pacific Science Center,
   1156 High Street
   Santa Cruz, CA 95064
   USA
   

   (831) 426-4738 (voice)
   (831) 426-4748 (FAX)
   rpeters@usgs.gov
   

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

1. How well have the observations been checked?

2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

   Scope of the database - It is the goal of the authors that the database be comprehensive. The database currently cites 53 papers documenting 60 sites where known or potential tsunami deposits have been reported along the Cascadia margin (Figure 2). All known journal articles pertaining to specific sites along the Cascadia margin and published in English by the time of submission have been included. While every attempt has been made to include all theses and conference or symposium abstracts and proceedings that pertain to Cascadia tsunami deposits, the limited availability and inadequate referencing of some of these publications has made some omissions likely. Also, some conference abstracts that were superceded by journal publications were omitted if they did not contain any additional information. Similarly, if a USGS open file report was superceded by a USGS professional paper, only the professional paper was included. The Cascadia Tsunami Deposit Database documents the variety found in tsunami deposits along the Pacific Northwest coast. It contains data on the age, number of deposits, sedimentary characteristics and identifying features of Cascadia tsunami deposits. It includes data from Northern California, north of the Mendocino triple junction through Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. While the focus of the database are deposits from tsunamis that originate from earthquakes on the CSZ, data from historical tsunami deposits originating from trans-oceanic tsunamis are included for comparison. Tsunami deposits located in the Puget Sound area that are not believed to be of a Cascadia origin are not included in the database.

5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

   Limitations of database - Care should be exercised in using this data. No attempt has been made to verify the data presented in this report. The data derive from a wide variety of studies with differences in focus, scope, and intent. Details concerning techniques, errors, difficulties, inconsistencies, variability, and potential alternate interpretations of the data are beyond the scope of this report. These are usually site-specific and the original citation should be consulted. This report contains data from both peer-reviewed journals and from publications not typically subjected to extensive peer review. Techniques varied widely among the various studies and the accuracy and precision between separate entries may not be comparable. No attempt has been made in this report to quantify errors. The exception is in dating the deposits, where the errors reported in the publications are included. Even these may not be comparable due to differences in material dated, sampling techniques, or in the case of ages reported in calendar years, the calibration curve used and the error estimation method (Stuvier and Becker, 1986, 1993). It is recommended that the original reference, supplied for each entry, be consulted before using data compiled in this report.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints:

Physical materials are under controlled on-site access. If available, access to physical samples is described in the "WR CMG Sample Distribution Policy" at: <http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/infobank/programs/html/definition/sample-dist-policy.html>

Use_Constraints:

Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as the source of this information. Physical materials are under controlled on-site access. Some USGS information accessed through this means may be preliminary in nature and presented without the approval of the Director of the USGS. This information is provided with the understanding that it is not guaranteed to be correct or complete and conclusions drawn from such information are the responsibility of the user. This information is not intended for navigational purposes. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 10-Jan-2003

Metadata author:

United States Geological Survey (USGS), Coastal and Marine Geology (CMG)
c/o Robert Peters
Pacific Science Center,
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
USA

(831) 426-4738 (voice)
(831) 426-4748 (FAX)
rpeters@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:

FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)