Abstract
Evidence of the AD 1755 tsunami consisting of the same type of accretions produced by the re-deposition of earlier sediments, has been recorded at three different height along the coast of Gibraltar: Along a shallow sandy shore, the tsunami wave reached a run-up of 2-3 m, whereas along steep, cliff-lined shores (Rosia Bay) it surpassed 5 m. An overwash deposit was also identified at the bottom of a lagoon (The Inundation), at 0.5 m b.s.l., on the isthmus that joins the Rock with the mainland. Southern submerged platforms (Vladi's Reef) were also affected by the erosional backwash to a depth of 22 m. The tsunamigenic sediments exhibit a bimodal granulometry, mainly composed of sands with a coarser fraction composed of marine faunal shells remains, together with larger clasts derived from the rocky substrate. All remobilized sediments were dated by historical methods and radiocarbon dating.
Translated title of the contribution | The recorded evidence of AD 1755 Atlantic tsunami on the Gibraltar coast |
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Original language | Spanish |
Pages (from-to) | 177-193 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Journal of Iberian Geology: an international publication of earth sciences |
Volume | 37 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |
Keywords
- AD 1755 tsunami
- Gibraltar
- Lisbon earthquake
- Radiocarbon dating
- Run-up
- Sedimentary record