Publications
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Field survey of the Samoa tsunami of 29 September 2009
On 29 September 2009, a strong earthquake took place south of the Samoa Islands in the southcentral Pacific. It triggered a local tsunami, which caused considerable damage and 189 fatalities on the Samoa Islands and in the northern Tonga archipelago. We present here the results of a tsunami survey conducted by an International Tsunami Survey Team in the Samoa Islands on 4-10 October 2009 and in no
Authors
Emile A. Okal, Hermann M. Fritz, Costas E. Synolakis, José C. Borrero, Robert Weiss, Patrick J. Lynett, Vasily V. Titov, Spyros Foteinis, Bruce E. Jaffe, Philip L-F. Liu, I-Chi Chan
Flood-frequency estimates for streams on Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii, State of Hawaii
This study provides an updated analysis of the magnitude and frequency of peak stream discharges in Hawai`i. Annual peak-discharge data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey during and before water year 2008 (ending September 30, 2008) at stream-gaging stations were analyzed. The existing generalized-skew value for the State of Hawai`i was retained, although three methods were used to evaluate w
Authors
Delwyn S. Oki, Sarah N. Rosa, Chiu W. Yeung
Effects of surface-water diversion on streamflow, recharge, physical habitat, and temperature, Na Wai Eha, Maui, Hawai'i
The perennial flow provided by Waihe‘e River, Waiehu Stream, ‘Īao Stream, and Waikapū Stream, collectively known as Nā Wai ‘Ehā (“The Four Streams”), made it possible for widespread agricultural activities to flourish in the eastern part of West Maui, Hawai‘i. The streams of the Nā Wai ‘Ehā area flow in their upper reaches even during extended dry-weather conditions because of persistent groundwat
Authors
Delwyn S. Oki, Reuben H. Wolff, Jeff A. Perreault
The Limit of Inundation of the September 29, 2009, Tsunami on Tutuila, American Samoa
U.S. Geological Survey scientists investigated the coastal impacts of the September 29, 2009, South Pacific tsunami in Tutuila, American Samoa in October and November 2009, including mapping the alongshore variation in the limit of inundation. Knowing the inundation limit is useful for planning safer coastal development and evacuation routes for future tsunamis and for improving models of tsunami
Authors
Bruce E. Jaffe, Guy Gelfenbaum, Mark L. Buckley, Steve Watt, Alex Apotsos, Andrew W. Stevens, Bruce M. Richmond
Changes of freshwater-lens thickness in basaltic island aquifers overlain by thick coastal sediments
Freshwater-lens thickness and long-term changes in freshwater volume in coastal aquifers are commonly assessed through repeated measurement of salinity profiles from monitor wells that penetrate into underlying salt water. In Hawaii, the thickest measured freshwater lens is currently 262 m in dike-free, volcanic-rock aquifers that are overlain by thick coastal sediments. The midpoint depth (depth
Authors
Kolja Rotzoll, Delwyn S. Oki, Aly I. El-Kadi
An approach for modeling sediment budgets in supply-limited rivers
Reliable predictions of sediment transport and river morphology in response to variations in natural and human-induced drivers are necessary for river engineering and management. Because engineering and management applications may span a wide range of space and time scales, a broad spectrum of modeling approaches has been developed, ranging from suspended-sediment "rating curves" to complex three-
Authors
Scott A. Wright, David J. Topping, David M. Rubin, Theodore S. Melis
Dramatic beach and nearshore morphological changes due to extreme flooding at a wave-dominated river mouth
Record flooding on the Santa Clara River of California (USA) during January 2005 injected ∼ 5 million m3 of littoral-grade sediment into the Santa Barbara Littoral Cell, approximately an order of magnitude more than both the average annual river loads and the average annual alongshore littoral transport in this portion of the cell. This event appears to be the largest sediment transport event on r
Authors
P.L. Barnard, J.A. Warrick
Effects of groundwater withdrawal on borehole flow and salinity measured in deep monitor wells in Hawai'i: implications for groundwater management
Water-resource managers in Hawai`i rely heavily on salinity profiles from deep monitor wells to estimate the thickness of freshwater and the depth to the midpoint of the transition zone between freshwater and saltwater in freshwater-lens systems. The deep monitor wells are typically open boreholes below the water table and extend hundreds of feet below sea level. Because of possible borehole-flow
Authors
Kolja Rotzoll
Coral Ba/Ca records of sediment input to the fringing reef of the southshore of Moloka'i, Hawai'i over the last several decades
The fringing reef of southern Moloka’i is perceived to be in decline because of land-based pollution. In the absence of historical records of sediment pollution, ratios of coral Ba/Ca were used to test the hypothesis that sedimentation has increased over time. Baseline Ba/Ca ratios co-vary with the abundance of red, terrigenous sediment visible in recent imagery. The highest values at One Ali’i ar
Authors
N.G. Prouty, M.E. Field, J. D. Stock, S.D. Jupiter, M. McCulloch
Reconnaissance Assessment of the Potential for Roadside Dry Wells to Affect Water Quality on the Island of Hawai'i
The County of Hawai'i Department of Public Works (DPW) uses dry wells to dispose of stormwater runoff from roads. Recently, concern has been raised that water entering the dry wells may transport contaminants to groundwater and affect the quality of receiving waters. The DPW operates 2,052 dry wells. Compiling an inventory of these dry wells and sorting it on the basis of presence or absence of ur
Authors
Scot K. Izuka, Craig A. Senter, Adam G. Johnson
Ecological assessment of wadeable streams on O`ahu, Hawai'i, 2006-2007: A pilot study
In 2006–07, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Pacific Islands Water Science Center (PIWSC), in cooperation with the Hawai‘i Department of Health (HDOH), conducted a pilot study as a participant in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Wadeable Streams Assessment (WSA) program. Forty randomly selected sites on perennial streams on O‘ahu, Hawai‘i, were surveyed for habitat characteristi
Authors
Reuben H. Wolff, Linda A. Koch
Rainfall, discharge, and water-quality data during stormwater monitoring, July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009; Halawa Stream drainage basin and the H-1 storm drain, Oahu, Hawaii
Storm runoff water-quality samples were collected as part of the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation Stormwater Monitoring Program. The program is designed to assess the effects of highway runoff and urban runoff on Halawa Stream, and to assess the effects from the H-1 storm drain on Manoa Stream. For this program, rainfall data were collected at three stations, continuous discharge data
Authors
Todd K. Presley, Marcael T. J. Jamison