Landslide tsunami: physical modeling for the implementation of tsunami early warning systems in the Mediterranean Sea

The main difficulty in implementing a Tsunami Early Warning System (TEWS) in the Mediterranean Sea arises from the proximity of the tsunami sources to the coasts at risk. Between few minutes and few tens of minutes are available for a timely warning of a possible approaching tsunami. To date, the only TEWS already operating in the Mediterranean Sea is that run by the Italian Department for Civil Protection at the Island of Stromboli, located north of Sicily in the south of the Tyrrhenian Sea. An active volcano is located on the island. The landslides that often detach from the "Sciara del Fuoco" following eruptive activity may result in the generation of tsunamis that propagate around the island and toward the coasts of Italy. The implemented TEWS is therefore aimed at mitigating the risk of landslide generated tsunamis. The present paper illustrates some of the experimental activities carried out during the last decade aimed at improving the TEWS of Stromboli island. A series of experiments was carried out with the main aim of gaining insight on landslide generated tsunamis. In general, the experimental results were intended to be useful for the definition of forecasting formulae, for the validation of mathematical models, for the improvement of the knowledge on involved phenomena and for the optimization of detection algorithm. In particular, the physical investigations aimed at improving the TEWS of the Stromboli are detailed. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.