Impact of the Minoan tsunami of Santorini. Simulated scenarios in the Eastern Mediterranean

We have simulated the impact of the tsunami generated
by the Late Bronze Age (LBA) volcanic eruption of
Santorini on the Eastern Mediterranean. Two different
tsunami triggering mechanisms were considered: a caldera
collapse and pyroclastic flows/surges entering the sea.
Simulations include the ‘‘worst’’ input conditions in order to
evaluate the maximum possible impacts, but also ‘‘lighter’’
input conditions, compatible with the lack of any tsunami
trace on the Northern coasts of Crete. In all the simulations,
tsunami propagation is mainly confined to the Southern
Aegean. Outside the Aegean, the tsunami impact was
negligible and not responsible for the slide-slumping of
fine-grained pelagic and/or hemipelagic sediments
considered the sources of the sporadically located seadeposits
in the Ionian Sea and of the widespread
megaturbidite deposits localized in the Ionian and
Sirte Abyssal Plains.

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