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In Search of Ancient Tsunamis takes readers on a journey through the science of tsunamis and acts as a "how to" guide in the geology, geomorphology, anthropology, and archaeology of these devastating phenomena. The book draws on examples from around the world and includes numerous personal accounts of field and laboratory experiences.
This journey through tsunami science is framed within the search for ancient tsunamis in the northern part of Chile, a desert environment that requires all the skillsets available to the tsunami researcher. This is a region where numerous attempts to find evidence have failed largely due to the hostile environment that refuses to play by the rules. The story is told through the very personal lens of the author with first-hand accounts of the trials and tribulations of fieldwork and local eccentricities, of serendipitous events, and a growing awareness and understanding of a wide variety of techniques that can be applied to the science. The journey is populated with side stories engaging the reader with deeper insights into the countries, study areas, joys and disappointments of carrying out scientific research across the globe. It is both a very personal story as well as an in-depth look at the science involved in an increasingly sophisticated and interdisciplinary search to better understand the true nature of tsunamis. It contains the wisdom of elders, "Eureka" moments of discovery, and a look at the very latest developments of understanding the effects of ancient tsunamis on prehistoric human populations.
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Preface
Chapter 1. Serendipity - An Introduction
Chapter 2. Strand 1: 26 December 2004 - Indian Ocean
Chapter 3. Strand 2: Same Time, Different Places
Chapter 4. Strand 3: New Light Through Old Windows
Chapter 5. Strand 4: Chatham Islands - Rekohu/Wharekauri - How Big?
Chapter 6. Strand 5: Just Part of the Problem
Chapter 7. Strand 6: The Human Touch
Chapter 8. Strand 7: Piled Higher and Deeper
Chapter 9. Strand 8: A Country with Latitude
Chapter 10. Stand 9: Life and Death on the Edge
Chapter 11. Strand 10: The Future
Bibliography
Index
James Goff is an Honorary Professor of Tsunami Research at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia, and Visiting Professor at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom. Until 2016, he was Deputy Director of the PANGEA (Paleontology, Geobiology, and Earth Archives) Research Centre and Director of the Australia-Pacific Tsunami Research Centre at UNSW. He continues to carry out research in the Pacific region at a wide variety of sites. He has co-edited or authored five books, including the 2021 book Tsunami: The World's Greatest Waves, written in collaboration with Professor Walter Dudley and published by Oxford University Press. He has written over 300 peer-reviewed publications, produced an online tsunami database for New Zealand, and contributed to several other national databases. He has appeared in numerous TV documentaries, including those of Discovery Channel and National Geographic, and has been the subject of many radio and print media stories.
