The Holocene Storegga Slide tsunami in the United Kingdom

D. E. Smith (Lead / Corresponding author), S. Shi, R. A. Cullingford, A. G. Dawson, S. Dawson, C. R. Firth, I. D. L. Foster, P. T. Fretwell, B. A. Haggart, L. K. Holloway, D. Long

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    168 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    All currently known sites in the United Kingdom with evidence for the Holocene Storegga Slide tsunami are described. Information on the altitude, distribution, stratigraphical context, age, particle size profile and microfossil characteristics of the deposits is presented. The tsunami involved a greater area than previously described, reaching a coastline over 600km long. The ubiquitous sand layer which forms the main deposit associated with the event is shown to exhibit a consistent morphology and a particle size profile marked by fining-upwards sequences. An analysis of new and previously published radiocarbon dates indicates that from evidence in the United Kingdom, the event took place sometime around 7100radiocarbon years BP (7900 calibrated years BP). A new isobase model for mainland Scotland and adjacent areas, providing a preliminary estimate of land uplift since the tsunami, is presented. The model estimates contemporary sea surface level offshore at 14m below the present day mean high water spring tides. Tsunami sediment run-up is greatest in inlets, where it reaches at least 25m on Shetland and at least 5m along the mainland coastline to the south, and run-up of the tsunami would have exceeded these values. The tsunami sediments identified here are considered particularly valuable as a synchronous marker horizon.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)2291-2321
    Number of pages31
    JournalQuaternary Science Reviews
    Volume23
    Issue number23-24
    Early online date25 Jun 2004
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Dec 2004

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Global and Planetary Change
    • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
    • Archaeology
    • Archaeology
    • Geology

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