Using remote sensing techniques to identify geomorphic modifications caused by landslide tsunamis

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Campus where you would like to present

Ellensburg

Event Website

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source

Start Date

16-5-2021

End Date

22-5-2021

Keywords

Landslides, tsunamis, modifications

Abstract

When a large landslide falls into a deep body of water it can produce giant tsunami waves capable of causing widespread geomorphic change to landscapes. What changes occur and how long impacts from landslide tsunamis persist in the geologic record is not well understood. Landslide tsunamis often occur in relatively recently deglaciated regions, such as Alaska in the U.S. and in Greenland. In the last century four of the largest historic landslide tsunamis occurred in these regions that caused vegetation loss, reorganization of stream channel networks, and the formation of unique geomorphic features indicative of landslide tsunamis. We used remote sensing techniques to analyze satellite images and digital elevation models of sites where landslide tsunamis have occurred in the past to determine what geomorphic modifications were caused and to assess the timeframe at which modifications remain preserved in the geologic record. Our methods of event identification can be applied to other historic landslide tsunami sites and can potentially be used to identify unknown historic landslide tsunamis.

Faculty Mentor(s)

Breanyn MacInnes, Jennifer Lipton, and Lisa Ely

Department/Program

Geological Sciences

Additional Mentoring Department

https://cwu.studentopportunitycenter.com/using-remote-sensing-techniques-to-identify-geomorphic-modifications-caused-by-landslide-tsunamis/

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May 16th, 12:00 PM May 22nd, 12:00 PM

Using remote sensing techniques to identify geomorphic modifications caused by landslide tsunamis

Ellensburg

When a large landslide falls into a deep body of water it can produce giant tsunami waves capable of causing widespread geomorphic change to landscapes. What changes occur and how long impacts from landslide tsunamis persist in the geologic record is not well understood. Landslide tsunamis often occur in relatively recently deglaciated regions, such as Alaska in the U.S. and in Greenland. In the last century four of the largest historic landslide tsunamis occurred in these regions that caused vegetation loss, reorganization of stream channel networks, and the formation of unique geomorphic features indicative of landslide tsunamis. We used remote sensing techniques to analyze satellite images and digital elevation models of sites where landslide tsunamis have occurred in the past to determine what geomorphic modifications were caused and to assess the timeframe at which modifications remain preserved in the geologic record. Our methods of event identification can be applied to other historic landslide tsunami sites and can potentially be used to identify unknown historic landslide tsunamis.

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2021/COTS/54