Tsunamites Versus Tempestites: A Comprehensive Review from the Precambrian to Recent Times

Insight regarding the overall geological history of tsunamis and their impacts requires information gained from preserved deposits. Although recent decades have seen a rise in tsunami deposit studies overall, most reviews focus on specific time intervals, such as the Paleozoic, the K–Pg boundary, the Quaternary, or historical and recent events, while others concentrated on particular depositional settings, including lacustrine, offshore, or onshore environments. This review paper provides a comprehensive synthesis of tsunami deposits spanning the geological record from the Precambrian to recent times based on a global compilation of onshore, offshore, and lacustrine examples. Selections from the available evidence is traced from the oldest known tsunamites in the Archaean through major extinction boundaries such as the K–Pg, to the well-preserved Holocene and historical deposits. The findings indicate that while the fundamental sedimentological signatures of tsunamis have remained broadly consistent over geological time, their recognition in ancient strata remains challenging due to difficulty in differentiating between storm deposits (tempestites) and other high-energy facies. A central aspect of this review is the critical assessment of diagnostic criteria proposed to differentiate tsunamites from tempestites. By using a multidisciplinary approach, integrating sedimentological, paleontological, geochemical, and geomorphological evidence in palaeotsunami research, this review provides a detailed framework to improve the confidence in identifying tsunami deposits. This, in turn, enhances palaeotsunami reconstructions, which are valuable for advancing hazard assessment along vulnerable coastlines.