Modelling past tsunamis in European waters

Abstract

A research model to simulate the propagation of tsunamis caused by different mechanisms was developed in this paper. These mechanisms are submarine earthquakes, landslides and collapse of volcano calderas. The model is based upon the non-linear shallow-water hydrodynamic equations with horizontal viscosity and friction with the seabed. It also includes a flooding/drying algorithm. This model was tested by applying it to several past tsunamis and comparisons of results with available data and/or other models. The objective of this paper is to present a summary on the application of the model to historical tsunamis occurred in European waters: Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and Caspian Sea. Additionally, two application examples on how the research model can be used to confront different candidate tsunami sources and to discard scenarios of catastrophic floodings initially attributed to tsunamis presented: the Santorini tsunami sequence and the flooding of the Gulf of Tartessos in SW Spain.