Publication Date:
2017-04-04
Description:
Analysis of tsunami deposits from the Pantano
Morghella area provided geological evidence for two inundations occurred along the south-eastern Ionian coast of Sicily.
Pantano Morghella is a large pond characterised by a finegrained sedimentation indicating a low-energy depositional environment. Two anomalous yellow sandy layers found at different depths indicate the occurrence of high-energy marine inundations. We studied sedimentological and paleontological features of the anomalous deposits as well as their spatial distribution observing the following properties: different facies with respect to the local stratigraphic sequence; erosive bases, rip-up clasts and broken elements testifying violent deposition mechanisms; macro and micro fauna of marine environment; relatively constant thickness throughout
most of the depositional zone with thinning at the distal end; large sand sheets that extend inland. These observations, jointly with their infrequency in the sedimentary record and the age indicating a fast deposition, provided strong evidence
for tsunami inundations. Correlations between anomalous layers and historical tsunamis are supported by radiocarbon
and OSL dating results. The younger deposit is likely due to the 1908 near-source tsunami, whereas the flooding of the oldest event is most likely associated with a far and large source, the Crete 365AD earthquake.
Description:
Published
Description:
1185-1200
Description:
3.2. Tettonica attiva
Description:
JCR Journal
Description:
open
Keywords:
Tsunami deposits
;
1908 AD tsunami
;
365 AD tsunami
;
coastal hazard
;
eastern Sicily
;
04. Solid Earth::04.04. Geology::04.04.01. Earthquake geology and paleoseismology
;
04. Solid Earth::04.04. Geology::04.04.08. Sediments: dating, processes, transport
;
04. Solid Earth::04.04. Geology::04.04.10. Stratigraphy
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
article
Permalink
