HR: 1340h
AN: S53A-1010    [Abstracts]
TI: Characteristic Tsunami Events in the Area of Rhodes Island, East Hellenic Arc
AU: * Fokaefs, A
EM: anna@gein.noa.gr
AF: Institute of Geodynamics, National Observatory of Athens, PO Box 20048, Lofos Nymfon, Thissio, Athens, 11810,
AU: Daskalaki, E
EM: daskalaki.eleni@gmail.com
AF: Institute of Geodynamics, National Observatory of Athens, PO Box 20048, Lofos Nymfon, Thissio, Athens, 11810,
AU: Orfanogiannaki, K
EM: korfanogiannaki@gmail.com
AF: Institute of Geodynamics, National Observatory of Athens, PO Box 20048, Lofos Nymfon, Thissio, Athens, 11810,
AU: Papadopoulos, G A
EM: papadop@gein.noa.gr
AF: Institute of Geodynamics, National Observatory of Athens, PO Box 20048, Lofos Nymfon, Thissio, Athens, 11810,
AB: The eastern segment of the Hellenic arc-trench (EHAT) is one of the most active in the Mediterranean region producing both large earthquakes and tsunamis. Therefore, it was selected as the master test-site of the EU TRANSFER tsunami research project. Previous research results indicates that EHAT produces characteristic shallow earthquakes of M¡Ö7.2. From historical documentary sources and instrumental records we conclude that in the last six centuries six characteristic earthquakes ruptured the EHAT: 1481, 1609, 1741, 1851, 1957. This implies that EHAT is ruptured by strong, shallow shocks as an average every 120±13 years, indicating a quasi- periodic than random process. However, the tsunami generation deviates from such a quasi-periodic pattern given that only the 1481, 1609 and 1741 earthquakes produced strong tsunamis, while the 1851 shock generated only a small-to-moderate local tsunami and the 1957 one was non-tsunamigenic. We introduce the concept of ¡°characteristic tsunami¡± to describe similar, strong tsunamis produced by earthquakes occurring in the same fault segment. Then, we conclude that only some characteristics earthquakes produce characteristic tsunamis while others do not. From the point of view of tsunami hazard assessment it is of great importance to estimate the probability that the next characteristic earthquake may generate a characteristic tsunami. To this goal we apply a conditional probabilitiy procedure tested recently in highly tsunamigenic zones of the Pacific Ocean.This is a contribution of the EU Research Project "TRANSFER", contract N.037058, FP6-2005-Global-4, Reduction of Tsunami Risks.
DE: 4564 Tsunamis and storm surges
SC: Seismology [S]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting