Geological evidence for paleotsunamis along eastern Sicily (Italy): an overview

We present geological evidence for paleotsunamis
along the 230 km-long coast of eastern Sicily (Italy); combining
this information with historical data, we reconstruct
a unique history of tsunami inundations. We integrate data
on 38 paleotsunami deposits (from fine sand layers to boulders)
collected at 11 sites (one offshore). The geological data
record traces of large tsunamis which have occurred during
the past 4 millennia. Chronological constrains include 14C,
210Pb and 137Cs, OSL and tephrochronology. When compatible,
the age of the paleotsunami deposits is associated
to historical events, but it is also used to highlight unknown
tsunamis. Average tsunami recurrence interval (between 320
and 840 yr) and minimum inland tsunami ingressions (often
greater than the historical ones) were estimated at several
sites. On the basis of this work, the tsunami catalogue
is implemented by two unknown tsunamis which occurred
during the first millennium BC and by one unknown regional
tsunami, which occurred in 650–770 AD. By including this
latter event in the eastern Sicily catalogue, we estimate an
average recurrence interval for strong tsunamis of ca. 385 yr.
Comparison and merging of historical and geological data
can definitely contribute to a better understanding of regional
and local tsunami potential and provides robust parameters to
be used in tsunami hazard estimates.

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