AHEAD European Archive of Historical EArthquake DataEuropean Archive of Historical EArthquake Data

A unified catalogue containing 293 tsunamis generated in the European and Mediterranean seas since 6150 B.C. to current days is presented. It is the result of a systematic and detailed review of all the regional catalogues available in literature covering the study area, each of them having their own format and level of accuracy. The realization of a single catalogue covering a so wide area and involving several countries was a complex task that posed a series of challenges, being the standardization and the quality of the data the most demanding. A “reliability” value was used to rate equally the quality of the data for each event and this parameter was assigned based on the trustworthiness of the information related to the generating cause, the tsunami description accuracy and also on the availability of coeval bibliographical sources. Following these criteria we included in the catalogue events whose reliability ranges from 0 (“very improbable tsunami”) to 4 (“definite tsunami”). About 900 documentary sources, including historical documents, books, scientific reports, newspapers and previous catalogues, support the tsunami data and descriptions gathered in this catalogue. As a result, in the present paper a list of the 290 tsunamis with their main parameters is reported. The online version of the catalogue, available at http://roma2.rm.ingv.it/en/facilities/data_bases/52/catalogue_of_the_euro-mediterranean_tsunamis, provides additional information such as detailed descriptions, pictures, etc. and the complete list of bibliographical sources. Most of the included events have a high reliability value (3= “probable” and 4= “definite”) which makes the Euro-Mediterranean Tsunami Catalogue an essential tool for the implementation of tsunami hazard and risk assessment.

Information from Galbis Rodriguez (1932). Earthquake data from Baptista and Miranda (2009). Rather strong shock felt in Lisbon causing some damage. The shock was perceived on board of some vessels. Many coeval sources (letters, newspapers) report detailed description of the earthquake and tsunami. Baptista et al. (2006) and Baptista and Miranda (2009), who quote coeval sources, report that about one hour and a quarter after the earthquake, a tsunami was observed in Lisbon. Its amplitude is estimated as eight feet, affecting several ships that were left dry at some intervals. Sea water changes were also observed along the Spanish coasts, namely Ayamonte, Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz and Barcelona. The tsunami was also observed very sensibly in Funchal and in Terceira (Azores). Sea rising three times, one hour and a half after the shock (Mallet, 1852; Mallet, 1853 and Edmonds, 1846). 8 feet amplitude sea water fluxes and refluxes with period 6-8 min until evening (Perrey, 1847; Rodriguez de la Torre, 1997) affecting several ships that were left dry at some intervals (Baptista and Miranda, 2009). Alteration in the sea in Ayamonte (Huelva), in Càdiz, in the close village of Puerto de S.Marìa, and in Barcelona (Rodriguez de la Torre, 1997). At the island of Madeira and at Terceira (Azores) violent agitation observed. At Terceira the sea rose to a great high, and fell again so low, that the quays were left dry; all the lighters and fishingboats, that were hauled up in Portorico, were carried down into the bay, and broke to pieces upon the rocks” (Andrade et al., 2006). Sea agitation seen at Barbados about 8 hours and a half after the earthquake (Rodriguez de la Torre, 1997). The tide ebbed and flowed, in about eight minutes, between eighteen inches and two feet (Baptista and Miranda, 2009). The following descriptions of tsunami effect in the different localities are from Mallet (1852) and Edmonds (1846). At Cape Finisterre extraordinary sea flux and reflux. At Kinsale at about six o' clock in the evening (Baptista et al., 2006; Baptista and Miranda, 2009) several sudden sea rises and retirements (2 feet) in about 4 minutes. At Carrick the waters of the river Suir rose of about 4 feet in the space of 5 minutes. At Waterford sea advanced 30 feet on the shore. At Mount's Bay in Corwall, the sea rose 6 feet five times in an hour. At the Scilly Islands, 4 feet sea rise, the motion lasting 2 hours (Mallet, 1853). At Penzance and Newlyn 6 feet sea rise. At St. Michael's Mount about 4 feet sea rise. At Mousehole pier the sea was in great agitation, and the fishing boats in danger.