Oral legend and geological evidence for a 16th century giant tsunami in Kiribati, central Pacific

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Terry ◽  
Robert Karoro ◽  
Gennady Gienko ◽  
Marta Wieczorek ◽  
Annie Lau
Keyword(s):  
Slope Failure ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Geological Evidence ◽  
High Magnitude ◽  
Tsunami Observations ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Historical Tsunami ◽  
Credible Information ◽  
Fossil Coral

<p>Within Oceania, the vast Central and Western Pacific (CEWEP) is an intriguing anomaly because of the scarcity of historical tsunami observations and the complete absence of dated palaeotsunami events.  This study establishes the first dated high-magnitude palaeotsunami event within the CEWEP region.  Both geological data and oral legend are presented for a palaeotsunami that struck remote Makin atoll in northernmost Kiribati towards the end of the 16<sup>th</sup> century.  Narration of the euhemeristic myth by the <em>Wiin te Maneaba</em>, traditional storyteller on Makin, offered important details supporting a tsunami hypothesis.  The legend preserves credible information surrounding the giant-wave origin of <em>Rebua </em>and <em>Tokia</em>, two prominent named subaerial reefblocks of megaclast size that were produced and transported shorewards away from the reef edge by the event.  The youngest U-Th age-dates for fossil coral samples in the reefblocks give a maximum age for the palaeotsunami of <em>circa </em>AD 1576.  Several far-field Pacific Rim and regional possibilities exist for tsunamigenesis.  These include subduction-zone seismicity and catastrophic volcanic eruption, both of which have been linked to late 15<sup>th</sup> century palaeotsunamis recorded elsewhere in the Pacific Islands.  Available evidence, however, suggests that the ~AD 1576 Makin event was more likely locally generated by tsunamigenic submarine slope failure associated with the giant arcuate bight structure that characterises the northern atoll rim.</p>

scholarly journals Predicting bycatch hotspots for endangered leatherback turtles on longlines in the Pacific Ocean

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1777) ◽  
pp. 20132559 ◽  
Author(s):  
John H. Roe ◽  
Stephen J. Morreale ◽  
Frank V. Paladino ◽  
George L. Shillinger ◽  
Scott R. Benson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Fishing Effort ◽  
Western Pacific ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Leatherback Turtles ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Fisheries Bycatch ◽  
The Pacific Ocean ◽  
Nesting Beaches

Fisheries bycatch is a critical source of mortality for rapidly declining populations of leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea . We integrated use-intensity distributions for 135 satellite-tracked adult turtles with longline fishing effort to estimate predicted bycatch risk over space and time in the Pacific Ocean. Areas of predicted bycatch risk did not overlap for eastern and western Pacific nesting populations, warranting their consideration as distinct management units with respect to fisheries bycatch. For western Pacific nesting populations, we identified several areas of high risk in the north and central Pacific, but greatest risk was adjacent to primary nesting beaches in tropical seas of Indo-Pacific islands, largely confined to several exclusive economic zones under the jurisdiction of national authorities. For eastern Pacific nesting populations, we identified moderate risk associated with migrations to nesting beaches, but the greatest risk was in the South Pacific Gyre, a broad pelagic zone outside national waters where management is currently lacking and may prove difficult to implement. Efforts should focus on these predicted hotspots to develop more targeted management approaches to alleviate leatherback bycatch.

Molecular and morphological evolution in the south-central Pacific skink Emoia tongana (Reptilia : Squamata): uniformity and human-mediated dispersal

1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher C. Austin ◽  
George R. Zug
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Morphological Evolution ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Tropical Pacific ◽  
The South ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
South Central ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Minimal Research

Human-mediated and waif dispersal are both responsible for the distribution of lizards on tropical Pacific islands. The component of each of these dispersal modes to the Pacific herpetofauna, however, is unclear. Morphological conservatism of Pacific lizards, the poor paleontological record on tropical Pacific islands, and minimal research effort in the Pacific (compared with other island systems) has hampered our understanding of waif versus human-mediated patterns. We examine morphological and genetic variation of Emoia concolor and E. tongana (formerly E. murphyi), two scincid lizards, from the south-central Pacific, to assess modes of dispersal and population structure. Emoia tongana from Tonga and Samoa is genetically uniform, suggesting that these are synanthropic populations recently introduced, presumably from Fiji. Relatively large genetic divergence is evident for populations of E. concolor within the Fijian archipelago, suggesting prehuman intra-archipelago dispersal and isolation.

scholarly journals Evidence of a previously unrecorded local tsunami, 13 April 2010, Cook Islands: implications for Pacific Island countries

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1371-1379 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Goff
Keyword(s):  
Subduction Zones ◽  
Slope Failure ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Pacific Island ◽  
Volcanic Origin ◽  
Loss Of Life ◽  
Cook Islands ◽  
Submarine Slope ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Pacific Ocean

Abstract. Tsunami hazard assessments for Pacific Islands Countries (PICs) tend to focus on subduction zone sources. It is generally recognised that while volcanic-related tsunamigenic sources exist, they are probably only of minor relevance to the overall hazardscape of the Pacific. This paper outlines the evidence for a previously unrecorded local tsunami that struck the uninhabited south coast of Mangaia, Cook Islands, on 13 April 2010. The tsunami had a maximum inundation of 100 m inland and a runup of 12 m a.s.l. This event was most probably caused by a small submarine slope failure, the most recent of an unknown number of previous inundations. Since most PICs have a volcanic origin, it is suggested that current perceptions about the local and regional significance of such events is inaccurate. A review of volcanic-related tsunamigenic sources throughout the Pacific reveals a wealth of data concerning submarine slope failures in particular and a more general background of active volcanism. These sources are as relevant to PICs close to or far away from subduction zones. As populations grow and the coastlines of many PICs and those on the edge of the Pacific Ocean become increasing occupied, the likelihood for loss of life from these events increases.

scholarly journals Acute Lymphatic Filariasis Infection in United States Armed Forces Personnel Deployed to the Pacific Area of Operations during World War II Provides Important Lessons for Today

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne D. Melrose ◽  
Peter A. Leggat
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
World War Ii ◽  
Lymphatic Filariasis ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
World War ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
United States Armed Forces ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Acute Form

The deployment of United States (US) Armed Forces personnel into the central Pacific islands of Samoa and Tonga, which is highly-endemic for lymphatic filariasis (LF), resulted in thousands of cases of the acute form of this disease and greatly reduced their ability to carry out their mission. The major driving factor for the intensity of transmission was the aggressiveness and efficiency of the Aedes species mosquito vectors, especially the day-biting Ae. Polynesiensis. The paper reminds us of the danger that tropical diseases can pose for troops sent into endemic areas and constant and careful surveillance that is required to prevent rapid resurgence of Aedes-transmitted LF in populations, where the LF elimination program has been successful.

Seismic surface waves and the crustal structure of the Pacific region*

1934 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-302
Author(s):  
Dean S. Carder
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Surface Waves ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Long Waves ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Focal Region ◽  
Western North America ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Natural Period ◽  
The Pacific

summary The favorable location of Berkeley on the eastern margin of the Pacific makes possible a comparative study of surface waves coming directly from the epicenter to that station over paths that are purely Pacific or purely continental. Records of 378 earthquakes dating from November, 1910, to May, 1934, have been used in this study. Speeds and period of the initial impulses of Love waves have been measured and associated with wave-velocity. These waves show normal dispersion, the long waves having the greater speeds. Speeds over oceanic paths are higher than over continental paths, the difference diminishing with an increase in the wave-length. For short or long waves, they are about the same over all Pacific paths, but waves having intermediate periods (30 or 40 seconds) cross under the Aleutian deep faster than under the Polynesian Pacific. The data indicate for the crustal thicknesses under western North America and the Pacific the following approximate values: granite 20 kilometers, gabbro 40 kilometers, under western North America; basalt 25 kilometers, dunite 20 kilometers, under the Aleutian deep; basalt 30 kilometers, dunite 25 kilometers under Polynesia; and intermediate values under the remainder of the Pacific. A third discontinuity under the continent at depths somewhat greater than 60 kilometers is indicated. If the sub-Pacific is assumed to be single-layered, thicknesses of 35 to 45 kilometers form the best fit to the data. The thickness of the crust underlying the Pacific Islands is probably about 10 kilometers greater than that underlying the deeps of the North Pacific. Movements associated with Rayleigh waves apparently have their closest approach to theoretical conditions over central Pacific paths. The dominant periods in the coda are 8 to 9, 10, 13, and 16 seconds. The longer periods are dominant at the greater distances. The increase in period with distance is a discontinuous, step-like function. The structure underlying the Aleutian deep apparently is opaque to 13-second periods in the Rayleigh wave, and the central Pacific and possibly the Atlantic structure seems to be unfavorable in the transmission of waves having this period. Vibrations in the natural period or overtones thereof set up in the focal region being eventually transmitted as sympathetic vibrations to the region of the station seems to be a logical explanation for the dominant groupings in the coda. Should any section of the path be out of sympathy with a given period, this period would probably become subordinate if not lost. The natural period of a portion of the Arctic region, including Alaska, seems to be different from other parts of the world. The natural period of the San Francisco Bay region, or its dominant overtone, is observed to be about eight seconds.

scholarly journals The age and origin of the Pacific islands: a geological overview

2008 ◽  
Vol 363 (1508) ◽  
pp. 3293-3308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent E Neall ◽  
Steven A Trewick
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Islands ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Fracture Origin ◽  
Linear Chains ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Juan De Fuca ◽  
Lithospheric Plates ◽  
The Pacific Ocean ◽  
Volcanic Islands

The Pacific Ocean evolved from the Panthalassic Ocean that was first formed ca 750 Ma with the rifting apart of Rodinia. By 160 Ma, the first ocean floor ascribed to the current Pacific plate was produced to the west of a spreading centre in the central Pacific, ultimately growing to become the largest oceanic plate on the Earth. The current Nazca, Cocos and Juan de Fuca (Gorda) plates were initially one plate, produced to the east of the original spreading centre before becoming split into three. The islands of the Pacific have originated as: linear chains of volcanic islands on the above plates either by mantle plume or propagating fracture origin, atolls, uplifted coralline reefs, fragments of continental crust, obducted portions of adjoining lithospheric plates and islands resulting from subduction along convergent plate margins. Out of the 11 linear volcanic chains identified, each is briefly described and its history summarized. The geology of 10 exemplar archipelagos (Japan, Izu-Bonin, Palau, Solomons, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Society, Galápagos and Hawaii) is then discussed in detail.

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