Hello this is Jess!
In August I travelled to Kadonohama, Iwate Prefecture, for
two days of fieldwork collecting sediment from an outcrop. A huge thank you to
Yokoyama-sensei, Ishizawa-san and Kai for all their help with preparation and
sampling!
Yokoyama-Sensei, Ishizawa-san, Kai and myself
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| Completing fieldwork at the outcrop |
At Kadonohama, I retrieved 81 cube samples across two sites. At both sites, two tsunami deposits were identified via the intrusion of large pebbles. Tsunami deposits form when sediment is ripped up, transported, and redeposited during a tsunami’s run-up, inundation and backwash. Tsunami deposit characteristics vary depending on the surrounding environment. As Kadonohama has a rocky beach setting the intrusion of tsunami is identified through the movement of these larger pebbles further inland.
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| Tsunami deposits identified at Kadonohama |
By contrast, at Kiri-Kiri (also in Iwate Prefecture), which
has an orange-coloured sandy beach, tsunami deposits are identified by the
intrusion of this distinct, orange-coloured sand.
Tsunami Deposits identified at Kiri-Kiri, Iwate Prefecture
At Kadonohama, we also found evidence of clay pots. These
have previously been identified as related to salt farming activities within the
region, which adds an interesting layer to the study area.
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| Red/orange sediment is evidence of clay pots and have previously been identified as from salt farming occuring within the region. |
The samples collected from this region will undergo radiocarbon dating to determine the age of the tsunami deposits and to correlate the tsunami deposits to other studies that have been completed along the Sanriku Coast. This will help in building a broader picture of past tsunami events within the region.
