Intermittent but Rapid Changes to Coastal Landscapes: The Tsunami and El Niño Wave-Formed Sea Arch at Laie Point, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A.
Kukuiho’olua Island is an islet that lies 164 m due north of Laie Point, a peninsula of cemented, coastal, Pleistocene and Holocene sand dunes. Kukuiho’olua Island consists of the same dune deposits as Laie Point and is cut by a sea arch, which, documented here for first time, may have formed during...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Geosciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/11/3/147 |
| _version_ | 1797540357028708352 |
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| author | Benjamin R. Jordan |
| author_facet | Benjamin R. Jordan |
| author_sort | Benjamin R. Jordan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Kukuiho’olua Island is an islet that lies 164 m due north of Laie Point, a peninsula of cemented, coastal, Pleistocene and Holocene sand dunes. Kukuiho’olua Island consists of the same dune deposits as Laie Point and is cut by a sea arch, which, documented here for first time, may have formed during the 1 April 1946 “April Fools’s Day Tsunami.” The tsunami-source of formation is supported by previous modeling by other authors, which indicated that the geometry of overhanging sea cliffs can greatly strengthen and focus the force of tsunami waves. Additional changes occurred to the island and arch during the 2015–2016 El Niño event, which was one of the strongest on record. During the event, anomalous wave heights and reversed wind directions occurred across the Pacific. On the night of 24–25 February 2016, large storm waves, resulting from the unique El Niño conditions washed out a large boulder that had lain within the arch since its initial formation, significantly increasing the open area beneath the arch. Large waves also rose high enough for seawater to flow over the peninsula at Laie Point, causing significant erosion of its upper surface. These changes at Laie Point and Kukuio’olua Island serve as examples of long-term, intermittent change to a coastline—changes that, although infrequent, can occur quickly and dramatically, potentially making them geologic hazards. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:58:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-56efe97c55aa46159ada1688f36aa836 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:58:55Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-56efe97c55aa46159ada1688f36aa8362023-11-21T11:39:11ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632021-03-0111314710.3390/geosciences11030147Intermittent but Rapid Changes to Coastal Landscapes: The Tsunami and El Niño Wave-Formed Sea Arch at Laie Point, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A.Benjamin R. Jordan0Faculty of Science, Brigham Young University-Hawaii, BYUH #1967, 55-220 Kulanui Street, Laie, HI 96762, USAKukuiho’olua Island is an islet that lies 164 m due north of Laie Point, a peninsula of cemented, coastal, Pleistocene and Holocene sand dunes. Kukuiho’olua Island consists of the same dune deposits as Laie Point and is cut by a sea arch, which, documented here for first time, may have formed during the 1 April 1946 “April Fools’s Day Tsunami.” The tsunami-source of formation is supported by previous modeling by other authors, which indicated that the geometry of overhanging sea cliffs can greatly strengthen and focus the force of tsunami waves. Additional changes occurred to the island and arch during the 2015–2016 El Niño event, which was one of the strongest on record. During the event, anomalous wave heights and reversed wind directions occurred across the Pacific. On the night of 24–25 February 2016, large storm waves, resulting from the unique El Niño conditions washed out a large boulder that had lain within the arch since its initial formation, significantly increasing the open area beneath the arch. Large waves also rose high enough for seawater to flow over the peninsula at Laie Point, causing significant erosion of its upper surface. These changes at Laie Point and Kukuio’olua Island serve as examples of long-term, intermittent change to a coastline—changes that, although infrequent, can occur quickly and dramatically, potentially making them geologic hazards.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/11/3/147Kukuiho’olua IslandLaieHawaiiENSOtsunamisea arch |
| spellingShingle | Benjamin R. Jordan Intermittent but Rapid Changes to Coastal Landscapes: The Tsunami and El Niño Wave-Formed Sea Arch at Laie Point, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A. Geosciences Kukuiho’olua Island Laie Hawaii ENSO tsunami sea arch |
| title | Intermittent but Rapid Changes to Coastal Landscapes: The Tsunami and El Niño Wave-Formed Sea Arch at Laie Point, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A. |
| title_full | Intermittent but Rapid Changes to Coastal Landscapes: The Tsunami and El Niño Wave-Formed Sea Arch at Laie Point, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A. |
| title_fullStr | Intermittent but Rapid Changes to Coastal Landscapes: The Tsunami and El Niño Wave-Formed Sea Arch at Laie Point, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intermittent but Rapid Changes to Coastal Landscapes: The Tsunami and El Niño Wave-Formed Sea Arch at Laie Point, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A. |
| title_short | Intermittent but Rapid Changes to Coastal Landscapes: The Tsunami and El Niño Wave-Formed Sea Arch at Laie Point, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A. |
| title_sort | intermittent but rapid changes to coastal landscapes the tsunami and el nino wave formed sea arch at laie point oahu hawaii u s a |
| topic | Kukuiho’olua Island Laie Hawaii ENSO tsunami sea arch |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/11/3/147 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT benjaminrjordan intermittentbutrapidchangestocoastallandscapesthetsunamiandelninowaveformedseaarchatlaiepointoahuhawaiiusa |