TSUNAMI DATA BASE OF THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

TSUNAMI DATA BASE OF THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

BY
A. Z HAMOUDA ‘*
‘Marine Geology and Geophysical Department, National Institute ofOceanography and Fisheries,
Kaye! Bey, A1exaruIria, Egypt
Key word: Tsunami, Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus, Ionian ea sunarnigemc,
Aegean Sea,
ABSTRACT
As a result offeasibility study ofthis paper, a concept and prototype of
the Eastern Mediterranean Tsunami Data Base (EMTDB) has been
established. This database introduces a careful description. revision and
analysis of tsunamis events, in particular these ones that occurred along
the Eastern Mediterranean. These kinds ofevents have been poorly studied
so far. and need a check to verify their own reliability. The Tsunami Data
Base contains in the digital form all available information on regiona
seismic tsunamis (source parameters, observed heights. original historical
description, etc.) as well as basic reference information 0 regiona
seismic, regional geography, geology and tectonics.
The main disaster area of tsunamis activity is located between Greece,
Crete and Turkey. The seismic tsunami activity is mainly depending on the
accumulation rate ofstrain energy in the Eastern Mediterranean between
the Hellenic and Cyprus Arcs. The maximum run-up height of the
historical tsunami in the Eastern Mediterranean has documented about a
30 m in the west cost ofPatmos-Greece in September 29,1650.
Preliminary results show how it is difficult to get a very C ear eftnition
of all those tsunamis, b~cause of a lack in the historical sources. The
distribution of population causes bad control of historical epicenter
earthquake location, but the location ofdisaster area (related to the effect
of sun mi) i e or d re clearly.