Volcaniclastic tide-modulated tempestite in a coastal tuff ring, Jeju Island, Korea

A rare, detailed record of a 3.7 ka BP storm event has been preserved within a coastal tuff ring on Jeju Island, Korea, offering unprecedented insight into ancient tempestite formation and tidal modulation during extreme weather conditions. The study identifies three distinct interbeds of wave-worked deposits—horizontally laminated to hummocky/swash cross-stratified sediments with mud drapes—extending up to 4.6 m above high tide level, indicative of storm-induced sea-level rise. These interbeds correspond to three tidal cycles within a 1.5-day storm event, suggesting the tuff ring's unique stratigraphy captures both volcanic and marine processes. This discovery underscores the potential of coastal volcanic structures as archives for extreme depositional events, such as storms and tsunamis, bridging sedimentary proxy records with historical reconstructions.

Sohn, C., & Sohn, Y. K. (2019). Volcaniclastic tide-modulated tempestite in a coastal tuff ring, Jeju Island, Korea. Scientific Reports, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-39784-0