The 30 October 2020 Aegean Sea Tsunami: Post-Event Field Survey Along Turkish Coast

Area of Science:

• Geophysics
• Oceanography
• Natural Hazards

Background:

• A significant earthquake occurred on October 30, 2020, in the eastern Aegean Sea, affecting Samos Island, Greece, and İzmir Province, Turkey.
• This seismic event triggered a destructive tsunami that impacted coastal areas in both Greece and Turkey.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct post-tsunami field surveys to assess the coastal impact of the Samos-İzmir tsunami.
• To measure key tsunami parameters such as runup, inundation distances, and flow depths.

Main Methods:

• Two field surveys were performed along the Turkish coastline, with the second survey focusing on a 110-km stretch.
• Measurements of tsunami runup, heights, flow depths, and inundation distances were taken at over 120 locations.
• Coastal structure damage was also investigated to understand the tsunami's impact.

Main Results:

• The maximum tsunami runup recorded was 3.8 m in Akarca, Turkey.
• A maximum tsunami height of 2.3 m and flow depth of 1.4 m were observed in Sığacık, Greece, which experienced severe damage.
• Tsunami impact generally decreased along the coast from Gümüldür southeastward.

Conclusions:

• The study provides valuable data on the coastal effects of local tsunamis in the Aegean Sea.
• Findings highlight the vulnerability of coastal areas to tsunami events generated by nearby earthquakes.
• The detailed measurements offer insights for future tsunami hazard assessments and mitigation strategies in the region.