Latest news with #TheUniversityofQueensland
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Science
- Miami Herald
Hidden inland boulder is proof of massive tsunami that hit Tonga 7,000 years ago
On the island of Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga, researchers scoured the southern coastline for evidence of violent weather events that occurred thousands of years ago. They were specifically looking for boulders, as they can only be carried ashore or moved by massive waves in 'high-energy events, such as tsunamis or storms,' according to a May 14 study published in the journal Marine Geology. Aerial photo revealed several boulders, but the largest was hidden from view. Local farmers speaking with the researchers told them of a boulder deep inland atop a cliff, covered by dense vegetation that obscured it from aerial view, and led them to it. 'I was so surprised; it is located far inland outside of our field work area,' study author and Ph.D. candidate Martin Köhler said in a news release from The University of Queensland's School of the Environment. 'It was quite unbelievable to see this big piece of rock sitting there covered in and surrounded by vegetation,' Köhler said. Researchers said 7,000 years ago, a tsunami about 164 feet tall— the height of the Arc de Triomphe, or a giant sequoia — dislodged the enormous rock and moved it 656 feet inland. At 45 feet long, 22 feet tall, 39 feet wide and weighing 1,300 tons, the 'exceptional' Maka Lahi is the world's largest cliff-top boulder, according to the study. Models suggest the tsunami was triggered by a landslide caused by an earthquake near the Tonga-Kermadec Trench, according to the study. 'Understanding past extreme events is critical for hazard preparation and risk assessment now and in the future,' coastal geomorphologist Annie Lau said in the release. According to Lau, the region has a 'long history of tsunamis triggered by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes along the underwater Tofua Ridge and the Tonga Trench.' The research team included Martin Köhler, Annie Lau, Koki Nakata, Kazuhisa Goto, James Goff, Daniel Köhler, Mafoa Penisoni.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Science
- Scoop
Boulder Washed Inland A Sign Of Pacific Tsunami History
Press Release – University of Queensland PhD candidate Martin Khler from The University of Queenslands School of the Environment says the Maka Lahi boulder measuring 14 x 12 x 6.7 metres was moved more than 200 metres inland by a tsunami around 7,000 years ago. Analysis has shown a boulder weighing almost 1,200 tonnes in Tonga is one of the largest known wave-transported rocks in the world, providing new insights into the Pacific region's history and risk of tsunamis. PhD candidate Martin Köhler from The University of Queensland's School of the Environment says the Maka Lahi boulder measuring 14 x 12 x 6.7 metres was moved more than 200 metres inland by a tsunami around 7,000 years ago. 'We had been surveying the southern side of the island of Tongatapu looking along the coastal cliffs at evidence of past tsunamis,' Mr Köhler said. 'It was late in the day, and we were talking to some farmers when they directed us to this boulder. 'I was so surprised; it is located far inland, outside of our field work area and must have been carried by a very big tsunami. 'It was quite unbelievable to see this big piece of rock sitting there covered in and surrounded by vegetation. 'We made a 3D model and then went back to the coast and found the spot the boulder could have come from, on a cliff over 30 metres above the sea level.' The Maka Lahi boulder is the world's largest known cliff-top boulder. Numerical modelling has established that wave heights of around 50 metres lasting around 90 seconds were needed to dislodge it from its cliff-edge origin and move it to its resting place. Co-author Dr Annie Lau, a coastal geomorphologist, said Tonga had a long history of tsunamis triggered by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes along the underwater Tofua Ridge and the Tonga Trench. 'Tonga's most recent tsunami in 2022 killed 6 people and caused a lot of damage,' Dr Lau said. 'Understanding past extreme events is critical for hazard preparation and risk assessment now and in the future. 'The findings we have reported on the Maka Lahi boulder are the evidence of a tsunami in the Pacific region in the Holocene epoch which began around 11,700 years ago. 'The analysis strengthens our understanding of wave transportation of rocks to improve coastal-hazard assessments in tsunami-prone regions around the world.'
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Science
- Scoop
Boulder Washed Inland A Sign Of Pacific Tsunami History
Press Release – University of Queensland PhD candidate Martin Khler from The University of Queenslands School of the Environment says the Maka Lahi boulder measuring 14 x 12 x 6.7 metres was moved more than 200 metres inland by a tsunami around 7,000 years ago. Analysis has shown a boulder weighing almost 1,200 tonnes in Tonga is one of the largest known wave-transported rocks in the world, providing new insights into the Pacific region's history and risk of tsunamis. PhD candidate Martin Köhler from The University of Queensland's School of the Environment says the Maka Lahi boulder measuring 14 x 12 x 6.7 metres was moved more than 200 metres inland by a tsunami around 7,000 years ago. 'We had been surveying the southern side of the island of Tongatapu looking along the coastal cliffs at evidence of past tsunamis,' Mr Köhler said. 'It was late in the day, and we were talking to some farmers when they directed us to this boulder. 'I was so surprised; it is located far inland, outside of our field work area and must have been carried by a very big tsunami. 'It was quite unbelievable to see this big piece of rock sitting there covered in and surrounded by vegetation. 'We made a 3D model and then went back to the coast and found the spot the boulder could have come from, on a cliff over 30 metres above the sea level.' The Maka Lahi boulder is the world's largest known cliff-top boulder. Numerical modelling has established that wave heights of around 50 metres lasting around 90 seconds were needed to dislodge it from its cliff-edge origin and move it to its resting place. Co-author Dr Annie Lau, a coastal geomorphologist, said Tonga had a long history of tsunamis triggered by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes along the underwater Tofua Ridge and the Tonga Trench. 'Tonga's most recent tsunami in 2022 killed 6 people and caused a lot of damage,' Dr Lau said. 'Understanding past extreme events is critical for hazard preparation and risk assessment now and in the future. 'The findings we have reported on the Maka Lahi boulder are the evidence of a tsunami in the Pacific region in the Holocene epoch which began around 11,700 years ago. 'The analysis strengthens our understanding of wave transportation of rocks to improve coastal-hazard assessments in tsunami-prone regions around the world.'
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Science
- Scoop
Boulder Washed Inland A Sign Of Pacific Tsunami History
Analysis has shown a boulder weighing almost 1,200 tonnes in Tonga is one of the largest known wave-transported rocks in the world, providing new insights into the Pacific region's history and risk of tsunamis. PhD candidate Martin Köhler from The University of Queensland's School of the Environment says the Maka Lahi boulder measuring 14 x 12 x 6.7 metres was moved more than 200 metres inland by a tsunami around 7,000 years ago. 'We had been surveying the southern side of the island of Tongatapu looking along the coastal cliffs at evidence of past tsunamis,' Mr Köhler said. 'It was late in the day, and we were talking to some farmers when they directed us to this boulder. 'I was so surprised; it is located far inland, outside of our field work area and must have been carried by a very big tsunami. 'It was quite unbelievable to see this big piece of rock sitting there covered in and surrounded by vegetation. 'We made a 3D model and then went back to the coast and found the spot the boulder could have come from, on a cliff over 30 metres above the sea level.' The Maka Lahi boulder is the world's largest known cliff-top boulder. Numerical modelling has established that wave heights of around 50 metres lasting around 90 seconds were needed to dislodge it from its cliff-edge origin and move it to its resting place. Co-author Dr Annie Lau, a coastal geomorphologist, said Tonga had a long history of tsunamis triggered by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes along the underwater Tofua Ridge and the Tonga Trench. 'Tonga's most recent tsunami in 2022 killed 6 people and caused a lot of damage,' Dr Lau said. 'Understanding past extreme events is critical for hazard preparation and risk assessment now and in the future. 'The findings we have reported on the Maka Lahi boulder are the evidence of a tsunami in the Pacific region in the Holocene epoch which began around 11,700 years ago. 'The analysis strengthens our understanding of wave transportation of rocks to improve coastal-hazard assessments in tsunami-prone regions around the world.' The research is published in Marine Geology.
Arab Times
21-05-2025
- Health
- Arab Times
Low vitamin D at birth may raise risk of ADHD, autism, and Schizophrenia: study
NEW YORK, May 21: A large study involving The University of Queensland has found that newborn babies with low vitamin D levels are more likely to develop mental health conditions such as ADHD, schizophrenia, and autism later in life. Researchers looked at the vitamin D levels of 71,793 people, many of whom were diagnosed with mental disorders during childhood or early adulthood. This is the biggest study of its kind. Professor John McGrath from UQ's Queensland Brain Institute led the research, which was done in partnership with Aarhus University and the State Serum Institute in Denmark. The team studied six mental health conditions: major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and anorexia. 'We found that babies with lower levels of vitamin D had a higher risk of developing schizophrenia, ADHD, and autism,' Professor McGrath said. Previous studies had already suggested a link between low vitamin D at birth and both schizophrenia and autism. This new research looked at more mental health conditions and also used two vitamin D-related markers and genetic data for a deeper analysis. Professor McGrath said the findings support the idea that giving vitamin D supplements to pregnant women and babies might help lower the chances of mental illness later in life. 'Vitamin D is very important for a baby's brain development, and many pregnant women around the world have low levels of it,' he said. 'That's why vitamin D supplements are already recommended during pregnancy in many countries.' He compared this to the way folate supplements are used during pregnancy to prevent birth defects like spina bifida. 'In the same way, our study suggests that making sure babies have enough vitamin D could reduce the risk of several mental health problems.' The research used data from the iPSYCH study, which began in Denmark in 2012 to explore mental health issues. Vitamin D comes mainly from sunlight, but it can also be found in some foods and supplements. The study results were published in The Lancet Psychiatry. Funding came from the Danish National Research Foundation, the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, and the University of Queensland.
