The 1856 Tsunami of Djidjelli (Eastern Algeria): Seismotectonics, Modelling and Hazard Implications for the Algerian Coast

Yelles‐Chaouche, Abdelkrim; Roger, Jean; Déverchère, Jacques; Bracène, Rabah; Domzig, A.; Hébert, Hélène; Kherroubi, A.

doi:10.1007/s00024-008-0433-6

Cited by 32 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(15 reference statements)

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“…It allows us to compute tsunami generation and propagation associated with an earthquake and has been used for years in order to study tsunami hazards for various exposed regions, from French Polynesia (SLADEN et al, 2007) to the Mediterranean Sea (ALASSET et al, 2006;ROGER and HÉBERT, 2008;YELLES-CHAOUCHE et al, 2009;SAHAL et al, 2009).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Transoceanic 1755 Lisbon Tsunami in Martinique

Roger

Baptista

Sahal

et al. 2010

Pure Appl. Geophys.

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On 1 November 1755, a major earthquake of estimated M w =8.5/9.0 destroyed Lisbon (Portugal) and was felt in the whole of western Europe. It generated a huge transoceanic tsunami that ravaged the coasts of Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Local extreme run-up heights were reported in some places such as Cape St Vincent (Portugal). Great waves were reported in the Madeira Islands, the Azores and as far as the Antilles (Caribbean Islands). An accurate search for historical data allowed us to find new (unpublished) information concerning the tsunami arrival and its consequences in several islands of the Lesser Antilles Arc. In some places, especially Martinique and the Guadeloupe islands, 3 m wave heights, inundation of low lands, and destruction of buildings and boats were reported (in some specific locations probably more enclined to wave amplification). In this study, we present the results of tsunami modeling for the 1755 event on the French island of Martinique, located in the Lesser Antilles Arc. High resolution bathymetric grids were prepared, including topographic data for the first tens of meters from the coastline, in order to model inundations on several sites of Martinique Island. In order to reproduce as well as possible the wave coastal propagation and amplification, the final grid was prepared taking into account the main coastal features and harbour structures. Model results are checked against historical data in terms of wave arrival, polarity, amplitude and period and they correlate well for Martinique. This study is a contribution to the evaluation of the tele-tsunami impact in the Caribbean Islands due to a source located offshore of Iberia and shows that an 8.5 magnitude earthquake located in the northeastern Atlantic is able to generate a tsunami that could impact the Caribbean Islands. This fact must be taken into account in hazard and risk studies for this area.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Transoceanic 1755 Lisbon Tsunami in Martinique

Roger

Baptista

Sahal

et al. 2010

Pure Appl. Geophys.

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“…Simplified tectonic sketch of the western and central Mediterranean region, depicting main active fault structures, zones supposed to deform actively today, and parts of Cenozoic back arc basins undergoing incipient southward subduction (modified after Serpelloni et al [2007]). Numbers refer to mean horizontal strain rates (in mm y −1 ) assumed using GPS analyses (gray [Stich et al, 2006;Serpelloni et al, 2007]; south Tyrrhenian basin [Serpelloni et al, 2005]) or from geological record of finite deformation at sea (Algerian basin Yelles et al, 2009]). et al, 2007], which implies a contraction of the southern passive margins of the back arc basins of the Tyrrhenian and Algerian seas (Figures 1 and 2).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[4] The recent (Pliocene) contractional reactivation of the Algerian margin has been first suggested in the 70s from early geophysical investigations at sea [Auzende et al, 1972[Auzende et al, , 1975. Further evidence for compression along the Algerian margin has recently been highlighted using new bathymetry and seismic profiles Domzig et al, 2006;Yelles et al, 2009;Kherroubi et al, 2009]. In this study, we focus on the along-strike variations of the style of compressive deformation and on the influence of preexisting structures on the inversion process in order to estimate how compression reuses preexisting structures and when shortening started on the Algerian margin.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tectonic inheritance and Pliocene-Pleistocene inversion of the Algerian margin around Algiers: Insights from multibeam and seismic reflection data

et al. 2010

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International audienceThe Algerian margin has originated from the opening of the Algerian basin about 25-30 Ma ago. The central margin provides evidence for large-scale normal faults of Oligo-Miocene age, whereas transcurrent tectonics characterizes the western margin. A set of NW-SE oriented dextral transform faults was active during basin opening and divided the 600 km long central margin into segments of ~120-150 km. The upper Miocene, Plio-Quaternary, and present-day tectonic setting is, however, compressional and supports the occurrence of a margin inversion, a process still poorly documented worldwide. We show that the central Algerian margin represents a rare example of inverted margin, where the process of subduction inception is particularly well expressed and helps understand how extensional and transtensive structures are involved in margin shortening. Using multibeam bathymetry and multichannel seismic reflection sections from the MARADJA 2003 and 2005 cruises, we evidence Pliocene-Pleistocene shortening with contrasting styles along the margin between west (Khayr Al Din bank) and east (Boumerdès-Dellys margin) of Algiers. Pre-Miocene structures such as basement highs and transform faults appear to control changes of the deformation pattern along this part of the margin, resulting in different widths, geometries, and relative positions of folds and faults. Plio-Quaternary and active blind thrust faults do not reuse Oligo-Miocene normal and transform faults during inversion, but instead grow within the continental margin (as testified for instance by the 21 May 2003 Mw 6.8 Boumerdès-Zemmouri earthquake), at the foot of the continental slope and at the northern sides of basement highs interpreted as stretched continental blocks of the rifted margin. The inherited structures of the margin appear, therefore, to determine this deformation pattern and ultimately the earthquake and tsunami sizes offshore. The complex geometry of the fault system along the Algerian margin suggests a process of initiation of subduction in its central and eastern parts

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“…To take into account errors in the initial earthquake processing, composite scenario computation takes into account uncertainties in the epicenter location (single source selected in a 20 km radius circle), and the magnitude uncertainty (±0.2). Figure 7 shows the results of the methodology applied to the 1856 Djidjelli earthquake and tsunami (ROGER and HÉBERT 2008;YELLES-CHAOUCHE et al 2009). Figure 7b is computed for magnitude 6.9 (F s = 1.61, 1 unit source), Fig.…”

Section: Alert Level Refinement: Pre-computed Scenario Data Basesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implementation and Challenges of the Tsunami Warning System in the Western Mediterranean

Schindelé

Gailler

Hébert

et al. 2014

Pure Appl. Geophys.

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Abstract-The French Tsunami Warning Center (CENALT) has been in operation since 2012. It is contributing to the Northeastern and Mediterranean (NEAM) tsunami warning and mitigation system coordinated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, and benefits from data exchange with several foreign institutes. This center is supported by the French Government and provides French civil-protection authorities and member states of the NEAM region with relevant messages for assessing potential tsunami risk when an earthquake has occurred in the Western Mediterranean sea or the Northeastern Atlantic Ocean. To achieve its objectives, CENALT has developed a series of innovative techniques based on recent research results in seismology for early tsunami warning, monitoring of sea level variations and detection capability, and effective numerical computation of ongoing tsunamis.

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The 1856 Tsunami of Djidjelli (Eastern Algeria): Seismotectonics, Modelling and Hazard Implications for the Algerian Coast

Cited by 32 publications

References 13 publications

The Transoceanic 1755 Lisbon Tsunami in Martinique

The Transoceanic 1755 Lisbon Tsunami in Martinique

Tectonic inheritance and Pliocene-Pleistocene inversion of the Algerian margin around Algiers: Insights from multibeam and seismic reflection data

Implementation and Challenges of the Tsunami Warning System in the Western Mediterranean

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