Tsunami caused long-term ecosystem change in the Caribbean
Wednesday, December 12, 2012 - 10:30
in Earth & Climate
Overwash deposits point to major wave event more than 3,000 years ago. A detailed analysis of sediments from the island of Bonaire in the Caribbean presents convincing evidence for an extraordinary wave impact dating back some 3,300 years, even though no historical records of tsunamis exist for this island. Of particular interest are the consequences this large wave impact had on the island's ecosystem. The sediments studied by the scientists suggested that this tsunami entirely changed the coastal ecosystem and sedimentation patterns in the area.