TSUNAMIS IN THE OCEANS AND

MEDITERRANEAN
Ahmet Cevdet Yalner
Middle East Technical University, Civil Engineering Department
Ocean Engineering Research Center

 TSU: harbor
NAMI: wave

()
The word tsunami was regitered in all languages

after Great Meiji Tsunami 1883.

WHAT IS TSUNAMI?
A tsunami is a series of ocean waves of extremely long wave
length and long period generated in a body of water by an
impulsive disturbance that displaces the water.

CAUSES OF TSUNAMI

Impulses are:
Submarine Earthquakes
Undersea Landslides
Volcanoes
Impacts of objects from outer space
(such as meteorites, asteroids, and
comets)

IAEA

Vertical motion of the plates

6

Thanks Dr. Wattana

(Thailand)

IAEA

Vertical motion of the plates

7

Thanks Dr. Wattana

(Thailand)

IAEA
TSUNAMI AMPLIFICATION

Thanks Dr. Wattana (Thailand)

IAEA

10

Split

Amplification

Transformation

Reflection

Tsunami model

NAMI DANCE
Generation

Propagation

Developed from
TUNAMI N2

Deadliest Tsunamis in History

Fatalities1

Year

Magnitude

Principal areas

2004 9.0

1630-1410 b.c. Crete-Santorini, Ancient Greece

1755 8.5

Portugal, Morocco, Ireland, and the United Kingdom

1908

Messina, Italy

1782 7.0

South China Sea, Taiwan

1883

Krakatau, Indonesia

1707 8.4

Tokaido-Nankaido, Japan

1896 7.6

Sanriku, Japan

1868 8.5

Northern Chile

2011 8.9

Great East Japan Tsunami

1792 6.4

Kyushu Island, Japan

Indian Ocean

1Source:

National Geophysical Data Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration.

Read more: Tsunami Factfile Infoplease.com

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/tsunami.html#tsunami#ixzz29zaNUS4U

Deadliest Earthquakes in History

Fatalities1

Year

Magnitude

Principal areas

830,000

1556

8.0

255,000+

1976

8.0

230,000+

2004

9.1

230,000

1138

n.a.

222,570

2010

7.0

200,000

1920

8.6

200,000

1927

7.9

200,000

856

n.a.

150,000

893

n.a.

Shansi, China
Tangshan, China
off west coast of northern
Sumatra
Aleppo, Syria
Haiti
Gansu, China
near Xining, China
Damghan, Iran
Ardabil, Iran
Kwanto, Japan

143,000
1923
7.9
Source: National Earthquake Information Center, U.S. Geological Survey. Data compiled
from several sources.
Read more: Tsunami Factfile Infoplease.com
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/tsunami.html#tsunami#ixzz29zc1Wizm

List of Recent Tsunamis

Sep. 5, 2012 --Costa Rica:

Sep. 12, 2007 -- Sumatra:

Aug. 27, 2012 -- El Salvador:
Aug. 15, 2007 -- Peru:
Apr. 11, 2012 -- Sumatra:
Apr. 1, 2007 -- Solomon Islands:
Jul. 6, 2011 -- Kermadec:
Jan. 13, 2007 -- Kuril Islands, Russia:
Mar. 11, 2011 -- Honshu, Japan:
Nov. 15, 2006 -- Kuril Islands, Russia:
Dec. 21, 2010 -- Bonin Islands, Japan:
Jul. 17, 2006 -- South Java:
Oct. 25, 2010 -- Mentawai, Indonesia:
Mar. 28, 2005 -- Indonesia:
Apr. 6, 2010 -- Sumatra:
Dec. 26, 2004 -- Indonesia (Sumatra):
Feb. 27, 2010 -- Chile
Sep. 25, 2003 -- Hokkaido:
Jan. 12, 2010 -- Haiti
Jun. 23, 2001 -- Peru:
Jan. 3, 2010 -- Solomon Islands:
Jan. 13, 2001 -- El Salvador:
Oct. 7, 2009 -- Vanuatu and Santa Cruz Islands: Nov. 26, 1999 -- Vanuatu:
Jul. 17, 1998 -- Papua New Guinea:
Sep. 29, 2009 -- Samoa:
Jun. 10, 1996 -- Andreanov:
Aug. 10, 2009 -- Andaman Islands:
Jul. 12, 1993 -- Okushiri, Japan:
Jul. 15, 2009 -- New Zealand:
Nov. 14, 2007 -- Northern Chile:

http://nctr.pmel.noaa.gov/database_devel.html

SUMATRA

NORTHERN SUMATRA (INDONESIA, INDIAN OCEAN)

EARTHQUAKE (Mw~9.0) of DECEMBER 26, 2004:
Source Rupture Processes, Slip Distribution Modeling
and Tsunami Generation
Preliminary Rupture Model Contributed by

Tuncay Taymaz, Onur Tan and Seda Yolsal

stanbul Technical University, the Faculty of Mines

Department of Geophysics Seismology Section, stanbul
http://www.geop.itu.edu.tr/~taymaz/sumatra

A.C. Yalner, T. Taymaz, U. Kuran

Kenji Satake

ACEH

EPICENTER
3.298LU, 95.779BT

SUMATERA UTARA

Acknowledgements
UNESCO IOC
Middle East Technical University, METU, Ankara
YILDIZ Technical University, YTU, Istanbul
TMMOB-Chambers of Geological and Civil Engineers
YP nsaat A.
Yksel Proje A.
Yuksel Insaat A.
CESAS A.
Mavi Jeans
Lafarge

Acknowledgements
Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries
Republic of Indonesia
Prof. Ir. Widi Agoes Pratikto
Dr. Ir. Subandono Dipsosaptono
Dr. Gegar Sapta Prasetya
Dr. Ir. Rahman Hidayat

Acknowledgements
Dr. Eng. Dinar Catur Istiyanto
Ir. Widjo Kongko, M.Eng
and
Russian Colleagues and Team
American Colleagues and Team
Japanese Colleagues and Team

GREAT EAST JAPAN TSUNAMI

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

39

Chamber of Civil Engineers Turkey

Yuksel Project International Co., Turkey
Dolsar Ltd., Turkey
Kiska Com. , Turkey
Cesas Ltd., Turkey
METU and Bogazici University KOERI, Turkey
Tohoku University , Japan
NSF Rapid Grant, USA
TUBITAK (Turkey)-RFBR (Russia) Joint Research Grant
(MORAT)
HCMR, Greece
Dr. Masahiro Yamamoto and Dr. Laura Kong

GENERAL EVALUATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF

STRUCTURAL PERFORMANCE
Narrow long bays
Along rivers
Coastal Forestation
Marine Vessels
Tsunami Breakwaters
Tsunami Walls along the Coastlines
Wooden Structures
Concrete Structures
Bridges
Scouring
Berthing Places

Prof. Dr. Ahmet

Yalciner

Dr. Anawat
Suprassi

cal
Necmiolu

Erick
Mas

Nikos
Kaligeris

MEGA TSUNAMIS IN JAPAN

869 JOGAN TSUNAMI
1611 KEICHO TSUNAMI
1896 MEIJI TSUNAMI
1933 SHOWA TSUNAMI
1960 SHIZUKAWA TSUNAMI
(CHILE EARTHQUAKE)

42

From field guide, 3rd International Tsunami Field Symposium,

April, 2010, Tohoku University, Sendai
Trip leaders: Nobuo Shuto, Fumihiko Imamura

From field guide, 3rd International Tsunami Field Symposium,

April, 2010, Tohoku University, Sendai
Trip leaders: Nobuo Shuto, Fumihiko Imamura

Distribution of Maximum
Tsunami Amplitude in Pacific
Ocean
Intial Wave

TSUNAMI RUNUP DISTRIBUTION

Ref: Coastal Engineering Committe Japan

Field Investigations after Great East

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
May 30 June 3, 2011

SENDAI
SENDAIai
Sendai
port
SENDA
PORT

Arahama

Yuriage

SENDA
AIRPORT
Sendai airport

49

ARAHAMA-SENDAI

Taro
Morioka

Miyako

Yamada

Otsuchi

Kamaishi

Kitakami

Ofunato

Rikuzentakata

Ichinoseki

Kesennuma

1896
1933

MYAKO

MIYAKO

KAMAISHI

KAMAISHI

OFUNATO

OFUNATO

RIKUZENTAKATA

Before, 2010

Before 2010

After Tsunami

The only pine tree in Rikuzentakata

RIKUZENTAKATA

KESENNUMA

Assyrians, Chaldeans, Hebrews, Hittites, Akkadians, Etruscans, Minoans,

Mycenaeans, Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Babylonians, Sumerians, Nubians,
Persians, Phonecians, Vencians, Genoans, Arabs, Greeks, Romans, Ottomans

Civilizations
Plato, Socrates, Hammurabi, Aristotle, Alexander, Ceasar, Cleopatra,
Augustus

Philosofers
Pharaohs, Emperors, Kings, Queens and Sultans

Governors

War and Peace,

Olive, Grape,
Date,
Sun, Beach,
Breeze
Culture, archaeology, art, music,
theater, language, philosophy,
politics, democracy, life and more

MEDITERRANEAN SEA
E-W 3900 km S-N 1600 km max
4 000 000 km 2
Depth max. 4400 m

Map from IOC UNESCO

CONNECTION BETWEEN AEGEAN AND

BLACK SEAS THROUGH STRAITS
NOAH FLOOD

Noah Flood (approximately 7000-5000 years

before present)

41

Santorini

40

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37

36

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21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

The Santorini /(Thera) Eruption and Tsunami

Minoan Age in Aegean Sea
One of the main centers of explosive eruptions is
located on Thera (Santorini), and the eruption of
the Thera volcano in late Minoan time (1600
1300 B.C.) is considered to have been the most
significant Aegean explosive volcanism during
the late Holocene.

Map of Aegean Sea and adjacent region showing areas and sites mentioned in text. Felsic
volcanic products of Minoan eruption are found on Aegean Sea coasts and in eastern
Mediterranean deep-sea cores. Tsunamigenic sediment layers were discovered in Didim and
Fethye (western Turkey) and Gouves (Crete) (Minoura et. al., 2000)

48

4250

46

3750
3250

44

2750

42

2250

40

1400

1800

1000

38

700
500

36

300

34

200
100

32

0
-50

10

15

20

25

30

35

40
4250
3750
3250
2750
2250
1800
1400
1000
700
500
300
200
100
0
-50

37.5

37

36.5

36

35.5

35
23.5

24

24.5

25

25.5

26

26.5

27

27.5

28

28.5

29

EARTHQUAKES AND TSUNAMIS

IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION
EARTHQUAKES FOR OVER 4000 YEARS
INSTRUMENTAL SEISMICITY FOR OVER 100 YEARS
MANY IMPORTANT CITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST WERE
DESTROYED BY EARTHQUAKES

134 tsunami in Easterm Mediterranean

365 Tsunami
is the strongest known tsunami
in Eastern Mediterranaean

Altinok Y, (2009), Historical Tsunamis in Eastern Mediterranean, Internal Report of Work Package 1 of
TRANSFER Project.

Altinok Y. and Ersoy ., Tsunamis observed on near the Turkish Coast, Kluwer Academic Publishers,
Journal of Natural Hazards 21, 185-199, (2000)

Cita M.B., Rimoldi B., Geological and Geophysical Evidence for a Holocene Tsunami Deposit in the
Eastern Mediterranean Deep-Sea Record, J. Geodynamics, Vol.24. No:1-7 pp. 293-304, (1997)

Guidoboni, E., Comastri, A., and Traina, G., Catalogue of Ancient Earthquakes in the Mediterranean
Area up to the 10th Century, Instituto Nazionale di Geosica, Rome (1994).

Tinti S. and Maramai, A. Catalogue of Tsunamis Generated in Italy and in Cte d Azur, France: A Step
towards a Unified Catalogue of Tsunamis in Europe, Annali di Geofisica, Vol. 39, pp. 1253-1299. (1996)

Galanopoulos, A.G. Tsunamis Observed on the Coasts of Greece from Antiquity to Present Time,
Annali di Geofisica, Vol. 13, pp. 369-386, (1960)

Ambraseys, N.N. Catalogue of Tsunamis in the Eastern Mediterranean from Antiquity to Present
Times, Annali di Geofisica, Vol. 32, pp. 113-130, (1962)

Papadopoulos G. A. and Chalkis, B. J., Tsunamis observed in Greece and the surrounding area from
antiquity to the present times, Marine Geol. 56 (1984), 309317.

Tinti S., Maramai, A. and Graziani, L The New Catalogue of Italian Tsunamis, Natural Hazards, Vol. 33,
No. 3, pp. 439-465.(2004).

Papadopoulos G.A. and Fokaefs A., (2005), Strong Tsunamis in the Mediterranean Sea; A reevaluation, ISET Journal of Earthquake Technology, Paper No. 463, Vol. 42, No. 4, pp. 159-170, (2005)

The locations of the tsunami triggered events in the Eastern

Mediterranean Sea classified according to the estimated
earthquake magnitudes

Probable Sources :
Sea floor deformations with fault breaks related to
earthquakes
Submarine or Subaerial Landslides
Sea floor subsidence by pull apart mechanism of strike
slip faults
Caldera Collapse, Volcanic eruptions,
Explosions or cosmic collision

which disturb the overlying water column and cause

instability in water body
UNESCO-RELEMR

Workshop on Seismicity and Earthquake Engineering in the Extended Mediterranean

Ankara Plaza Hotel, 21-24 June 2010

41

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Dalaman

27

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41

40

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DALAMAN
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35
21

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25

26

27

28

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Dalaman

Imamura, Minoura, Takahashi, Papadopoulos, Kuran Yalciner

1740 ?

1473

Dalaman
Imamura, Minoura, Takahashi,
Paapdopoulos, Kuran, Yalciner

1303?

Dalaman Mediterranean

Meulaboh Indian Ocean

July 21, 365 event by NAMI DANCE;

10min

30min

60min

90min

Figure 6.12: Propagation of the landslide generated tsunami wave in 10, 30, 60 and 90 minutes

(m)
Marmara
Ereglisi

41.0

Yenikapi

1000
800
Hereke Tutunciftlik
600
Ulasli Degirmendere 400
Karamursel Halidere
300
200
100
0

Tuzla
Tekirdag
Sarkoy
Marmara Isl.

40.5

Armutlu Cape
Kapidag
Dardanelles

Karabiga

27.0

27.5

Kocadere

28.0

28.5

29.0

29.5

SEA

depth
(m)
Marmara
Ereglisi

41.0

Yenikapi

1000
800
600
Ulasli Degirmendere 400
Karamursel Halidere
300
200
100
0

Tuzla

Hereke

Tekirdag
Sarkoy
Marmara Isl.

40.5

Armutlu Cape
Kapidag
Dardanelles

Karabiga

27.0

27.5

Kocadere

28.0

28.5

29.0

29.5

Tutunciftlik

depth
(m)
Marmara
Ereglisi

41.0

Yenikapi

1000
800
Hereke Tutunciftlik
600
Ulasli Degirmendere 400
Karamursel Halidere
300
200
100
0

Tuzla
Tekirdag
Sarkoy
Marmara Isl.

40.5

Armutlu Cape
Kapidag
Dardanelles

Karabiga

27.0

27.5

Kocadere

28.0

28.5

29.0

29.5

ISTANBUL- Yenikapi

depth
(m)
Marmara
Ereglisi

41.0

Yenikapi

1000
800
600
Ulasli Degirmendere 400
Karamursel Halidere
300
200
100
0

Tuzla

Hereke

Tekirdag
Sarkoy
Marmara Isl.

40.5

Armutlu Cape
Kapidag
Dardanelles

Karabiga

27.0

27.5

Kocadere

28.0

28.5

29.0

Tutunciftlik

29.5

Google Earth, 2009

depth
(m)
Marmara
Ereglisi

41.0

Yenikapi

1000
800
600
Ulasli Degirmendere 400
Karamursel Halidere
300
200
100
0

Tuzla

Hereke

Tekirdag
Sarkoy
Marmara Isl.

40.5

Armutlu Cape
Kapidag
Dardanelles

Karabiga

27.0

27.5

Kocadere

28.0

28.5

29.0

29.5

Tutunciftlik

tsunami 989

earthquake 1010 ?

34 Shipwreck

DATA

HISTORICAL
GEOLOGICAL
OBSERVATIONAL
INSTRUMENTAL

NUMERICAL
Middle East Technical University, Civil Engineering Dept.,
Ocean Engineering Research Center, Ankara TURKEY

DOCUMENTS

EARTHQUAKES FOR OVER 4000 YEARS

INSTRUMENTAL SEISMICITY FOR OVER 100 YEARS

MANY IMPORTANT CITIES DESTROYED BY EARTHQUAKES
Middle East Technical University, Civil Engineering Dept.,
Ocean Engineering Research Center, Ankara TURKEY

POTENTIAL

All types of
tsunami sources
are available

TECTONICALLY ACTIVE ZONES

SUBMARINE LANDSLIDE POTENTIAL
SEDIMENT STABILITY ?
Middle East Technical University, Civil Engineering Dept.,
Ocean Engineering Research Center, Ankara TURKEY

SILENCE

SINCE 1956
DENSER COASTAL ACTIVITIES
DENSER COASTAL POPULATION
Middle East Technical University, Civil Engineering Dept.,
Ocean Engineering Research Center, Ankara TURKEY

Thank You for Your Kind Attention

Ahmet Cevdet Yalner

Thank You for Your Attention

A. C. Yalciner

Middle East Technical University, Civil Engineering Department

Ocean Engineering Research Center