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Tsunami hazards in the Catalan Coast, a low-intensity seismic activity area

Author

Listed:
  • Ignacio Barranco

    (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTech
    National University of Singapore)

  • Vicente Gracia

    (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTech
    Centre Internacional d’Investigació dels Recursos Costaners (CIIRC))

  • Joan Pau Sierra

    (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTech
    Centre Internacional d’Investigació dels Recursos Costaners (CIIRC))

  • Hector Perea

    (B-CSI, Institut de Ciències del Mar-CSIC
    University of California San Diego)

  • Xavier Gironella

    (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTech
    Centre Internacional d’Investigació dels Recursos Costaners (CIIRC))

Abstract

The potential impacts of tsunamis along the Catalan Coast (NW Mediterranean) are analysed using numerical modelling. The region is characterized by moderate to low seismic activity and by moderate- to low-magnitude earthquakes. However, the occurrence of historical strong earthquakes and the location of several active offshore faults in front of the coast suggest that the possibility of an earthquake-triggered tsunami is not negligible although of low probability. Up to five faults have been identified to generate tsunamis, being the highest associated possible seismic magnitudes of up to 7.6. Coastal flooding and port agitation are characterized using the Worst-case Credible Tsunami Scenario Analysis approach. The results show a multiple fault source contribution to tsunami hazard. The shelf dimensions and the existence of submerged canyons control the tsunami propagation. In wide shelves, waves travelling offshore may become trapped by refraction causing the wave energy to reach the coastline at some distance from the origin. The free surface water elevation increases at the head of the canyons due to the sharp depth gradients. The effects of potential tsunamis would be very harmful in low-lying coastal stretches, such as deltas, with a high population concentration, assets and infrastructures. The Ebro delta appears to be the most exposed coast, and about the 20% of the delta surface is prone to flooding due to its extremely low-lying nature. The activity at Barcelona port will be severely affected by inflow backflow current at the entrance of up to 2 m/s.

Suggested Citation

  • Ignacio Barranco & Vicente Gracia & Joan Pau Sierra & Hector Perea & Xavier Gironella, 2017. "Tsunami hazards in the Catalan Coast, a low-intensity seismic activity area," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 88(3), pages 1273-1295, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:88:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s11069-017-2918-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-017-2918-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anita Grezio & Warner Marzocchi & Laura Sandri & Paolo Gasparini, 2010. "A Bayesian procedure for Probabilistic Tsunami Hazard Assessment," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 53(1), pages 159-174, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Y. & Weng, W.G. & Huang, Z.L., 2018. "A scenario-based model for earthquake emergency management effectiveness evaluation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 197-207.

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