Inferences on paleo-tsunami from the shoreline of Poompuhar, central Tamil Nadu coast, India through sedimentological and micropaleontological signatures

• Published in: Quaternary international Vol. 642; pp. 73 - 83
• Main Authors: Chaturvedi, Subodh Kumar, Loveson, Victor J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 30.12.2022
• Subjects: Central Tamil Nadu coast; Foraminifera; Paleo shoreline; Tsunami; Central Tamil Nadu coast; Tsunami; Paleo shoreline; Foraminifera
• ISSN: 1040-6182; 1873-4553
• DOI: 10.1016/j.quaint.2022.03.015

A 650 cm long sediment core collected from the Poompuhar beach was analyzed for sedimentological and foraminiferal studies. The specific absence of foraminifera and occurrences of coarser sands of low φ value of mean grain size from the bottom of the core up to 200 cm core depth reflects the dominant influence of the Cauvery river in the study area in the geological past. Further, the consistent occurrence of the appreciable number of marine microfossil - foraminifera and greater φ value of mean grain size of finer sands in top 200 cm core depth reflect the strong influence of marine environment indicating the coastal subsidence followed by marine transgression in this region. This distinct break in sedimentological and micropaleontological parameters at around 200 cm core depth could be due to the mega-tsunami events and associated phenomena such as coastal submergence, shifting of the river course, and reduced supply of sediments river in the study area around 1540 ± 25 years ago.