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 |
|---|---|
| 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