%0 Journal Article
%A Álvarez Gómez, José Antonio
%A Aniel Quiroga, Íñigo
%A González, Mauricio
%A Olabarrieta, Maitane
%A Carreño Herrero, Emilio
%T Scenarios for earthquake-generated tsunamis on a complex tectonic area of diffusedeformation and low velocity: The Alboran Sea, Western Mediterranean
%D 2011
%@ 0025-3227
%U https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/44226
%X The tsunami impact on the Spanish and North African coasts of the Alboran Sea generated by several reliableseismic tsunamigenic sources in this area was modeled. The tectonic setting is complex and a study of thepotential sources from geological data is basic to obtain probable source characteristics. The tectonicstructures considered in this study as potentially tsunamigenic are: the Alboran Ridge associated structures,the Carboneras Fault Zone and the Yusuf Fault Zone. We characterized 12 probable tsunamigenic seismicsources in the Alboran Basin based on the results of recent oceanographical studies. The strain rate in the areais low and therefore its seismicity is moderate and cannot be used to infer characteristics of the major seismicsources. These sources have been used as input for the numerical simulation of the wave propagation, basedon the solution of the nonlinear shallow water equations through a finite-difference technique. We calculatedthe Maximum Wave Elevations, and Tsunami Travel Times using the numerical simulations. The results areshown as maps and profiles along the Spanish and African coasts. The sources associated with the AlboranRidge show the maximum potential to generate damaging tsunamis, with maximum wave elevations in frontof the coast exceeding 1.5 m. The Carboneras and Yusuf faults are not capable of generating disastroustsunamis on their own, although their proximity to the coast could trigger landslides and associated seadisturbances. The areas which are more exposed to the impact of tsunamis generated in the Alboran Sea arethe Spanish coast between Malaga and Adra, and the African coast between Alhoceima and Melilla.
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