The source spectrum for the Algerian tsunami of 21 May 2003 estimated from coastal tide gauge datafrom coastal tide gauge data

Abstract

On 21 May 2003 a submarine earthquake occurred near Algiers producing a tsunami that propagated northward and reached the Balearic Islands and the Levantine coast of the Iberian Peninsula within an hour. Despite that the generated tsunami was moderate, sea level variations inside certain harbors at the Balearic Islands were significant, producing severe damage to moored boats. Available tsunami records in the affected harbors are examined to estimate amplifications factors of arriving waves and spectral characteristics of the source. Comparison between background and tsunami oscillations at various sites allowed separation of the tsunami source properties from local topographic effects. The fundamental period of the reconstructed source spectrum is 21 min, which is in close agreement with that found by Alasset et al. (2006) based on modeling the tsunami initiation.