ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Impact of 2004 Tsunami on Seafloor Morphology
and Offshore Sediments, Pakarang Cape, Thailand
P. Feldens1, K. Schwarzer1, W. Szczuciński2, K. Stattegger1,
D. Sakuna1, P. Somgpongchaiykul3
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1Institute of Geosciences, Coastal and Shelf Research, Kiel University, Olshausenstrasse 40, 24118 Kiel, Germany
2Institute of Geology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Maków Polnych 16, 61-606 Poznań, Poland
3Biogeochemical and Environmental Change Research Unit, Prince of Songkla University,
P.O. Box 50, Kho Hong, hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2009;18(1):63-68
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
This study documents seafloor morphology and sediments based on multibeam, side-scan sonar and
boomer surveys, as well as sediment samples taken on the inner to mid shelf of the Andaman Sea after the
2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Preservation of submarine relief in former underwater mining areas points to limited
impact of the tsunami, while channel structures parallel to the observed tsunami backwash indicate a possible
higher impact. Therefore, the tsunami impact seems to be focused on some areas. The impact was probably
most effective during the backwash, when stiff mud deposits containing grass, wood fragments and shells
were transported by high density backwash flows. Moreover, several boulders, which might have been
deposited during the tsunami backwash flow, were found in the channels in front of Pakarang Cape.