Foraminiferal record of earthquakes

Collaborators: Ursula Cochran and Kate Wilson (GNS, Lower Hutt);

In coastal marsh and lagoon settings, foraminifera provide one of the most useful tools for helping to define the frequency and magnitude of earthquake hazards. Our previous research provides the high resolution data on modern foraminiferal distributions related to tidal elevation that is the basis for these applied studies.

Our programme aimed to document the Holocene major earthquake displacement histories around a number of seismically-active coastal areas of New Zealand and answer the question: Can NZ expect huge subduction-interface, megathrust earthquakes?.

Study areas

a. eastern Bay of Plenty (Ohiwa Harbour) - published, 2004.
b. South Westland (Okarito) - published, 2007, Nichol led.
c. Northern Hawkes Bay (Opoho, Opoutama) - published 2005, 2006, Cochran led.
d. Southern Hawkes Bay (Ahuriri Inlet, Napier; Pakuratahi, Porangahau) - published in part, 2006, 2012, 2015, 2016.
e. South Otago (Catlins Lake, Aokautere Estuary) - published 2007.
f. Marlborough Sounds – published 2010

g. Pauatahanui Inlet – published in part, 2011.
h. Southern Wairarapa – published, 2011.

i. Poverty Bay – published 2015

j. Marlborough, Big Lagoon – published 2010, 2015

k. Christchurch – published 2015.

Publications

• Hayward, B.W., Grenfell, H.R., Sabaa, A.T., Cochran, U.A., Clark, K.J., Wallace, L., Palmer, A.S., 2016. Salt-marsh foraminiferal record of 10 large Holocene (last 7500 yrs) earthquakes on a subducting plate margin, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. Geological Society of America Bulletin 128: 896-915.
• Hayward, B.W., Grenfell, H.R., Sabaa, A.T., Clark, K.J., Cochran, U.A., Palmer, A.S., 2015. Subsidence-driven environmental change in three Holocene embayments of Ahuriri Inlet, Hikurangi Subduction Margin, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics 58, 344-363.
• Hayward, B.W., Clark, K.J., Sabaa, A.T., Cochran, U., 2015. Taphonomically- and infaunally-adjusted salt marsh foraminiferal record of late Holocene earthquake displacements and a tsunami sand, New Zealand. Journal of Foraminiferal Research 45, 354-368.
• Clark, K.J., Hayward, B.W., Cochran, U.A., Wallace, L.M., Power, W.L., Sabaa, A.T., 2015. Evidence for paleo-subduction earthquakes at a margin with active upper plate faulting: southern Hikurangi margin, New Zealand. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of North America 105, 1661-1690.
• Hayward, B.W., Sabaa, A.T., Figueira, B., Reid, C.M., Nomura, R., 2015. Foraminiferal record of the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence, New Zealand, and its predecessor. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 438, 213-225.
• Hayward, B.W., Sabaa, A.T., Grenfell, H.R., Cochran, U., Clark, K., Litchfield, N., Marden, M., Palmer, A., 2015. Foraminiferal record of Holocene paleo-earthquakes on the subsiding south-western Poverty Bay coastline, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics 58, 104-122.
• Hayward, B.W., Grenfell, H.R., Sabaa, A.T., Clark, K., 2012. Foraminiferal evidence for Holocene synclinal folding at Porangahau, southern Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics 55, 21-35.
• Hayward, B.W., Grenfell, H.R., Sabaa, A.T., Kay, J., Clark, K., 2011. Ecological distribution of the foraminifera in a tidal lagoon-brackish lake, New Zealand, and its Holocene origins. Journal of Foraminiferal Research 41, 124-137.
• Clark, K.J., Hayward, B.W., Cochran, U.A., Grenfell, H.R., Hemphill-Haley, E., Mildenhall, D.C., Hemphill-Haley, M.A., Wallace, L.M., 2011. Investigating subduction earthquake geology along the southern Hikurangi margin using paleoenvironmental histories of intertidal inlets. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 54, 255-271.
• Hayward, B.W., Wilson, K., Morley, M.S., Cochran, U., Grenfell, H.R., Sabaa, A.T., Daymond-King, R., 2010. Microfossil record of the Holocene evolution of coastal wetlands in a tectonically-active region of New Zealand. The Holocene 20, 405-421.
• Hayward, B.W., Grenfell, H.R., Sabaa, A.T., Kay, J., Daymond-King, R., Cochran, U., 2010. Holocene subsidence at the transition between strike-slip and subduction on the Pacific-Australian plate boundary, Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand. Quaternary Science Reviews 29, 648-661.
• Hayward, B.W., Grenfell, H.R., Sabaa, A.T., Kay, J., 2010. Using foraminiferal faunas as proxies for low tide level in the estimation of Holocene tectonic subsidence close to the Pacific-Australian plate boundary, New Zealand. Marine Micropaleontology 76, 23-36.
• Hayward, B.W.; Grenfell, H.R.; Sabaa, A.T.; Southall, K.A.; Gehrels, W.R. 2007. Foraminiferal evidence of Holocene fault displacements in coastal South Otago, New Zealand. Journal of Foraminiferal Research 37: 344-359.
  
• Nichol, S.L.; Goff, J.R.; Devoy, R.J.; Chague-Goff, C.;Hayward, B.W.; James, I. 2007. Lagoon subsidence and tsunami on the west coast of New Zealand. Sedimentary Geology 200: 248-262.
• Cochran, U.; Berryman, K.; Mildenhall, D.C.; Hayward, B.W.; Southall, K.; Hollis, C.; Barker, P.; Wallace, L.; Alloway, B.V.; Wilson, K. 2006. Paleoecological insights into subduction zone earthquake occurrence, eastern North Island, New Zealand. Geological Society of America Bulletin 118: 1051-1074.
• Hayward, B.W.; Grenfell, H.R.; Carter, R.; Cochran, U.; Sabaa, A.T.; Lipps, J.; Shane, P.R.; Morley, M.S. 2006. Micropalaeontological evidence of large earthquakes in the past 7200 years in southern Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Quaternary Science Reviews 25: 1186-1207.
  
• Cochran, U.; Berryman, K.; Mildenhall, D.C.; Hayward, B.W.; Southall, K.; Hollis, C. 2005: Towards a record of Holocene tsunami and storms for northern Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 48: 507-515.
• Hayward, B.W.; Cochran, U.; Southall, K.; Wiggins, E.; Grenfell, H.R.; Sabaa, A.; Shane, P.A.; Gehrels, R. 2004: Micropaleontological evidence for the Holocene earthquake history of the eastern Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Quaternary Science Reviews 23: 1651-67.
• Hayward, B.W.; Scott, G.H.; Grenfell, H.R.; Carter, R.; Lipps, J.H. 2004: Techniques for estimation of tidal elevation and confinement (~salinity) histories of sheltered harbours and estuaries using benthic foraminifera: Examples from New Zealand. The Holocene 14(2): 218-232.
• Hayward, B.W.; Grenfell, H.R.; Sandiford, A.; Shane, P.A.R.; Morley, M.S.; Alloway, B.V. 2002: Foraminiferal and molluscan evidence for the Holocene marine history of two breached maar lakes, Auckland, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics 45: 467-480.
• Goff, J.R.; Rouse, H.L.; Jones, S.L.; Hayward, B.W.; Cochran, U.; McLea, W.W.; Dickinson, W.W.; Morley, M.S. 2000: Evidence for an earthquake and tsunami about 3100-3400 years ago, and other catastrophic saltwater inundations recorded in a coastal lagoon, New Zealand. Marine Geology 170: 231-249.
• Chague-Goff, C.; Nichol, S.L.; Jenkinson, A.V.; Heijnis, H.; Hayward, B.W. 2000: 150 years of change in a New Zealand estuary: earthquake, floods, humans and tsunami. Patagonia 2000. International Conference:"Coastal interactions during sea-level highstands." Abstract Volume: 21-24.
• Carter, R.; Hayward, B.W.; Grenfell, H.R.; Lipps, J.H. 2000: Initial report: Foraminiferal documentation of earthquake-related vertical displacements in Holocene coastal lagoon sediments, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. Unpublished report, BWH 75/00: 71p.
• Goff, J.R., Rouse, H.L., Jones, S.L., Hayward, B.W., Cochran, U., McLea, W.W., Dickinson, W.W., Morley, M.S., 2000. Evidence for an earthquake and tsunami about 3100-3400 years ago, and other catastrophic saltwater inundations recorded in a coastal lagoon, New Zealand. Marine Geology 170, 231-249.
• Hayward, B.W.; Grenfell, H.R.; Scott, D.B. 1999: Tidal range of marsh foraminifera for determining former sea-level heights in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 42(3): 395-413.