The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $261,123 Project Grant under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) to the University of Oregon (UO) to conduct a comprehensive study of the Cascadia subduction zone, focusing on seismic and tsunami activity around the year 1700 CE. The key objectives are to:
Map high-resolution paleotsunami deposits at two key locations along the Cascadia subduction zone, and
Execute thousands of advanced tsunami inundation models to test hypotheses about earthquake slip distributions and improve understanding of the region's seismic behavior.
By employing techniques like sediment core analysis and geochemistry, this research aims to delineate the full extent of past tsunami inundation, which will help validate or exclude different earthquake scenarios. The insights gained will directly impact public safety and preparedness through improved hazard maps, emergency plans, and the design of tsunami evacuation structures. The project will also support collaboration with the Shoalwater Bay Tribe, who have built North America's first free-standing tsunami evacuation tower. This NSF-funded research will run from May 1, 2024 to April 30, 2027.