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A tsunamigenic delta collapse and its associated tsunami deposits in and around Lake Sils, Switzerland

Author

Listed:
  • Valentin Nigg

    (University of Bern)

  • Stephan Wohlwend

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Michael Hilbe

    (University of Bern)

  • Benjamin Bellwald

    (Volcanic Basin Petroleum Research (VBPR))

  • Stefano C. Fabbri

    (University of Bern)

  • Gregory F. Souza

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Florian Donau

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Reto Grischott

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Michael Strasser

    (University of Innsbruck)

  • Flavio S. Anselmetti

    (University of Bern)

Abstract

Large lacustrine mass movements and delta collapses are increasingly being considered as potential tsunamigenic sources and therefore hazardous for the population and infrastructure along lakeshores. Although historical reports document tsunami events in several lakes in Switzerland, and although the propagation of lake tsunamis has been studied by numerical wave modeling, only little is known about on- and offshore lacustrine tsunami deposits. In Lake Sils, Switzerland, a large prehistoric mass-movement deposit originating from the Isola Delta with a minimum estimated volume of 6.5 × 106 m3 and a basinal thickness of > 6 m in the seismic record has been identified by previous studies and radiocarbon dated to around 700 Common Era. Here, we combine (i) comprehensive sedimentological investigation of sediment cores recovered from the on- and offshore settings, (ii) mineralogical fingerprinting of the inflows from key catchments to characterize sediment provenance, and (iii) numerical tsunami modeling, to test the hypothesis of a tsunamigenic delta collapse in Lake Sils. We observe a clastic event deposit consisting of coarse-grained, fining-upward sand overlying an organic-rich peat deposit in the shallow water. This layer thins and fines landward on the coastal plain. Toward the deeper water (20–40 m), the deposit transforms into a thicker and more heterogeneous sediment package with multiple sequences of fining-upward sand and a well-pronounced clay cap at the top. Radiocarbon dating of the peat underlying the event deposit yields a maximum age of 225–419 calibrated Common Era. The tsunami models, which indicate wave heights reaching up to 5 m, simulate areas of inundation that coincide with the location of event deposits. Based on our results, we propose that the historically undocumented Isola Delta collapse generated a basin-wide tsunami that inundated the lakeshore, transporting large amounts of unconsolidated sediment along the lakeshore toward the coastal plain and into the deeper lake basin.

Suggested Citation

  • Valentin Nigg & Stephan Wohlwend & Michael Hilbe & Benjamin Bellwald & Stefano C. Fabbri & Gregory F. Souza & Florian Donau & Reto Grischott & Michael Strasser & Flavio S. Anselmetti, 2021. "A tsunamigenic delta collapse and its associated tsunami deposits in and around Lake Sils, Switzerland," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 107(2), pages 1069-1103, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:107:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s11069-021-04533-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-021-04533-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Budianto Ontowirjo & Raphaël Paris & Akira Mano, 2013. "Modeling of coastal erosion and sediment deposition during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Lhok Nga, Sumatra, Indonesia," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 65(3), pages 1967-1979, February.
    2. Lucinda Leonard & Garry Rogers & Stéphane Mazzotti, 2014. "Tsunami hazard assessment of Canada," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 70(1), pages 237-274, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anastasiia Shynkarenko & Katrina Kremer & Sylvia Stegmann & Paolo Bergamo & Agostiny Marrios Lontsi & Alexander Roesner & Steffen Hammerschmidt & Achim Kopf & Donat Fäh, 2022. "Geotechnical characterization and stability analysis of subaqueous slopes in Lake Lucerne (Switzerland)," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 113(1), pages 475-505, August.

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