Microscopic observation of laminated sediment in thin section using diatom assemblages to reconstruct annual paleoenvironmental changes
Abstract
Eastern Hokkaido is a severe earthquake and tsunami district. Lake Harutori, located in eastern Hokkaido, records 22 traces of huge tsunamis in lake sediment since 9500 years ago. The latest event was occurred in 17th century (e.g. Nanayama et al., 2003). However, the strict age is still unknown, because the autochthon Ainu culture did not have literature. In lake sediment, there is laminated structure between tsunami deposits, and also on the 17th huge tsunami deposit. If this laminated structure was recognized as annual varve, it will be able to decide the strict age and reconstruct the paleoenvironment in high resolution. Large thin section 165 mm length was made included 17th tsunami deposits, laminated silt layer and age known tephra and observed lithofacies and diatoms with 1,000 magnification light microscope. The thin section comprised from 80 mm thick tsunami deposit in bottom, 60 mm thick laminated silt layer, 15 mm tephra as known as Ta-b fallen in 1667A.D. and 10 mm laminated silt layer at the top. As the result of optical observation to laminated silt layer, 31 laminated structures were recognized. Inferred from diatom assemblages, 37 cyclic productions were recognized. Diatom components were apparently changed from bottom to top and were seemed to influence by the changes of lake water conditions after tsunami inundation. These results indicate that the start of accumulation of laminated silt layer and/or the end of confusion of lake water by tsunami current was around 1630 A.D.; 37 years before 1667 A.D.. This earthquake was separated from the 1611 Keicho Sanriku earthquake was well known in this era and the hypocenters of these earthquakes need to reexam.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013AGUFMPP11C1843I
- Keywords:
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- 4942 PALEOCEANOGRAPHY Limnology;
- 4944 PALEOCEANOGRAPHY Micropaleontology