Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-2016
Department
Marine Science
Abstract
Coastal geologic records allow for the assessment of long-term patterns of tropical cyclone variability. However, the accuracy of geologic reconstructions of tropical cyclones is limited by the lack of modern analogues. We describe the microfossil (foraminifera and testate amoebae) assemblages contained within overwash sediments deposited by Typhoon Haiyan when it made landfall on the islands of Leyte and Samar in the Philippines on 7 November 2013 as a Category 5 super typhoon. The overwash sediments were transported up to 1.7 km inland at four study sites. The sediments consisted of light brown medium sand in a layer(PAM) cluster analysis to identify lateral and vertical changes in the foraminiferal and testate amoebae data. The presence of intertidal and subtidal benthic, and planktic foraminifera that were variably unaltered and abraded identify the microfossil signature of the overwash sediments. Agglutinated mangrove foraminifera and testate amoebae were present within the overwash sediments at many locations and indicate terrestrial scouring by Haiyan's storm surge. PAM cluster analysis subdivided the Haiyan microfossil dataset into two assemblages based on depositional environment: (1) a low-energy mixed-carbonate tidal flat located on Samar Island (Basey transect); and (2) a higher-energy clastic coastline near Tanauan on Leyte Island (Santa Cruz, Solano, and Magay transects). The assemblages and the taphonomy suggest a mixed provenance, including intertidal and subtidal sources, as well as a contribution of sediment sourced from deeper water and terrestrial environments. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Title
Sedimentary Geology
Volume
339
First Page
104
Last Page
114
Recommended Citation
Pilarczyk, J. E.,
Horton, B. P.,
Soria, J. A.,
Switzer, A. D.,
Siringan, F.,
Fritz, H. M.,
Khan, N. S.,
Ildefonso, S.,
Doctor, A. A.,
Garcia, M. L.
(2016). Micropaleontology of the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan Overwash Sediments from the Leyte Gulf, Philippines. Sedimentary Geology, 339, 104-114.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/17450
Comments
This accepted manuscript is made available through a CC BY-NC-ND license. The final, published version of this article is available from the publisher's site: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2016.04.001