Implication of Foraminifera in Tracing the Suitable Site for Palaeo-Tsunami Impressions:A Case Study from Central Tamil Nadu Coast

A total of 44 (forty-four) pre- and post-tsunami surface sediment samples collected from various coastal geomorphic units at the same locations along 35 km long coastal stretch of Central Tamil Nadu coast between Poompuhar and Nagoor were utilized for foraminiferal studies to trace the tsunami signature. A total of twenty-five foraminifera species belonging to eleven genera and eight families have been identified from the study area. While comparing the foraminifera of the pre-tsunami sediments with the post tsunami sediments, it has been observed that in the post tsunami sediments, the total foraminiferal numbers (TFN) have been increased quite significantly along with the occurrences of several new genera and species of foraminifera in the area where the beach width are wide. The present study indicates that the chances of the preservation of tsunami sediments are more in those tsunami affected coastal area where the beach width are wide.