Abstract

VELASCO, Erick R  and  LOPEZ, Gloria I. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR TSUNAMIGENIC RESEARCH: COLOMBIAN PACIFIC COAST CASE STUDY. bol.geol. [online]. 2016, vol.38, n.4, pp.79-106. ISSN 0120-0283.  https://doi.org/10.18273/revbol.v38n4-2016005.

Historically, the Colombian Pacific Coast has witnessed six tsunamis in the past 130 years, two of which have caused complete community destruction and human loss. The present paper aims to provide a conceptual framework needed to approach palaeo-tsunami research in the area, verifying the state of the art of tsunami hazard characterization and identifying any future investigations. Any acceptable palaeo-tsunami investigation should be multi-disciplinary, and compile, acquire and analyze in much detail, geological, geomorphological, biological, anthropological, archaeological and historical information. So far, the only research done related to tsunami hazard has been for the coastal cities of Tumaco and Buenaventura, and it has been focused on quantification of tsunami flooding. However, no research has yet been done on the identification and characterization of tsunami sources, exploration and characterization of the physical evidence of past events (e.g. palaeo-tsunami deposits), seismic micro-zonation, regional changes in vegetation patterns resulting from extreme events, or changes related to indigenous peoples' habitational patterns or settlement abandonment, among others. For an effective risk management, tsunami hazard maps have to be emplaced, but they should integrate all the proxies and disciplines that enhance the identification and characterization of this hazard. We propose herein, the steps to follow to develop adequate tsunamigenic research.

Keywords : palaeo-tsunamis; tsunami Deposits; paleoseismology; Pacific Coast of Colombia; Nazca Subduction Zone.

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