Observations of tsunami and runup heights in Santa Cruz Harbor and surrounding beaches from the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai tsunami

Dates

Start Date: 2022-01-19
End Date: 2022-01-20
Publication Date: 2022-03-16

Citation

La Selle, S.M., Snyder, A.G., Nasr, B.M., Jaffe, B.E., Ritchie, A.C., Graehl, N., and Bott, J., 2022, Observations of tsunami and runup heights in Santa Cruz Harbor and surrounding beaches from the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai tsunami: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9ZVAB8D.

Summary

The 14 January 2022 eruption of Tonga Hunga-Tonga Ha‘apai volcano generated tsunamis that impacted the west coast of the United States on the morning of 15 January 2022. This data release presents runup heights and tsunami heights collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the California Geological Survey (CGS) during surveys at the Santa Cruz Harbor and beaches in Santa Cruz County, California, on January 19th and 20th, 2022 (Figure 1; USGS Field Activity 2022-607-FA). Evidence of tsunami inundation included high-water marks on buildings and harbor infrastructure (Figure 2a), wrack lines (Figure 2b), and flow-direction indicators such as bent vegetation (Figure 2c). Elevations surveyed at the maximum inland extent of tsunami [...]

Summary

The 14 January 2022 eruption of Tonga Hunga-Tonga Ha‘apai volcano generated tsunamis that impacted the west coast of the United States on the morning of 15 January 2022. This data release presents runup heights and tsunami heights collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the California Geological Survey (CGS) during surveys at the Santa Cruz Harbor and beaches in Santa Cruz County, California, on January 19th and 20th, 2022 (Figure 1; USGS Field Activity 2022-607-FA). Evidence of tsunami inundation included high-water marks on buildings and harbor infrastructure (Figure 2a), wrack lines (Figure 2b), and flow-direction indicators such as bent vegetation (Figure 2c). Elevations surveyed at the maximum inland extent of tsunami inundation are classified as “runup heights.” High-water mark elevations are classified as “tsunami heights.” At Seabright, Beer Can, and Manresa beaches, the inferred tsunami inundation limit was identified as the highest wrack line on each beach. The wrack line coincided with a change in sand color, with the inundated side consisting of darker colored sand (Figure 2d). Based on eyewitness and video observations of the tsunami in Santa Cruz Harbor, most of the surveyed tsunami and runup heights are the result of inundation from the highest wave around 08:50 PST (16:50 GMT). Flow-depth markers on buildings and infrastructure from a later wave were measured and reported as lower tsunami heights and are noted. The final point data are provided in a comma-separated text file and are projected in cartesian coordinates using the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), Zone 10 North, meters coordinate system.

Figure 1. Map and aerial imagery showing tsunami survey locations, including a) map of all survey locations; b) survey points at the Santa Cruz Harbor and nearby Seabright beach; c) survey points at Beer Can Beach; and d) survey points at Manresa Beach.

Figure 2. Examples of post-tsunami evidence of inundation and flooding. a) High-water marks (tsunami heights) on an electrical box marked by lines of fine organics and mud (red arrows). The upper mark represents the maximum water surface elevation from the wave at approximately 08:50 PST. The lower mark represents the water surface elevation most likely from a later wave. b) A tsunami wrack line (runup height; red line) at the north end of the Santa Cruz Harbor, identified by lightweight plant fragments, woodchips, and trash. c) Bent grasses representing the direction of return flow back towards the harbor (blue arrows, orange pen for scale). d) The tsunami wrack line and darker sand representing the inundation extent of the tsunami at Beer Can Beach.

Contacts

Point of Contact :: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator
Originator :: SeanPaul M. La Selle, Alexander G Snyder, Brandon (Contractor) M Nasr, Bruce E Jaffe, Andrew C Ritchie, Nick Graehl, Jacqueline Bott
Metadata Contact :: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator
Publisher :: U.S. Geological Survey
Distributor :: U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase
SDC Data Owner :: Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
USGS Mission Area :: Natural Hazards

Attached Files

sorting

Metadata First

Recent First

Alphabetical

Click on title to download individual files attached to this item.

sc_harbor_tonga_tsunami.xml Original FGDC Metadata	View	19.63 KB	application/fgdc+xml
sc_harbor_tonga_tsunami_fig2.png “Figure 2. Examples of post-tsunami evidence of inundation and flooding.”		15.73 MB	image/png
sc_harbor_tonga_tsunami.csv		197.79 KB	text/csv
sc_harbor_tonga_tsunami_fig1.png “Figure 1. Map and aerial imagery showing tsunami survey locations.”		5.57 MB	image/png

Purpose

Data were obtained to document perishable evidence of inundation in Santa Cruz County from the 2022 Tonga Hunga-Tonga Ha’apai tsunami. These data are intended for science researchers, students, policy makers, and the general public. These data can be used with geographic information systems or other software to assess the maximum tsunami elevations and inundation distance.

Observations of tsunami and runup heights in Santa Cruz Harbor and surrounding beaches from the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai tsunami

Dates

Citation

Summary

Summary

Contacts

Attached Files

sorting

Metadata First

Recent First

Alphabetical

Purpose

Preview Image

Map

Communities

Tags

Provenance

Additional Information

Identifiers

Item Actions

View Item as ...

Save Item as ...

View Item...

Dates

Citation

Summary

Summary

Contacts

Attached Files sorting Metadata First Recent First Alphabetical

Purpose

Preview Image

Map

Communities

Tags

Provenance

Additional Information

Identifiers

Item Actions

View Item as ...

Save Item as ...

View Item...

Attached Files

sorting

Metadata First

Recent First

Alphabetical