Tsunami generation potential of a strike-slip fault tip in the westernmost Mediterranean
Estrada, F.; González-Vida, J.M.; Peláez, J.A.; Galindo-Zaldívar, J.; Ortega, S.; Macías, J.; Vázquez, J.T.; Ercilla, G. (2021). Tsunami generation potential of a strike-slip fault tip in the westernmost Mediterranean. NPG Scientific Reports 11(1): 16253. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95729-6
In: Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group). Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 2045-2322; e-ISSN 2045-2322, meer
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| Auteurs | | Top |
- Estrada, F.
- González-Vida, J.M.
- Peláez, J.A.
- Galindo-Zaldívar, J.
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- Ortega, S.
- Macías, J.
- Vázquez, J.T.
- Ercilla, G.
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| Abstract |
Tsunamis are triggered by sudden seafloor displacements, and usually originate from seismic activity at faults. Nevertheless, strike-slip faults are usually disregarded as major triggers, as they are thought to be capable of generating only moderate seafloor deformation; accordingly, the tsunamigenic potential of the vertical throw at the tips of strike-slip faults is not thought to be significant. We found the active dextral NW–SE Averroes Fault in the central Alboran Sea (westernmost Mediterranean) has a historical vertical throw of up to 5.4 m at its northwestern tip corresponding to an earthquake of Mw 7.0. We modelled the tsunamigenic potential of this seafloor deformation by Tsunami-HySEA software using the Coulomb 3.3 code. Waves propagating on two main branches reach highly populated sectors of the Iberian coast with maximum arrival heights of 6 m within 21 and 35 min, which is too quick for current early-warning systems to operate successfully. These findings suggest that the tsunamigenic potential of strike-slip faults is more important than previously thought, and should be taken into account for the re-evaluation of tsunami early-warning systems. |
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