Abstract
Abstract. The development of appropriate risk and vulnerability reduction strategies to cope with tsunami risks is a major challenge for countries, regions, and cities exposed to potential tsunamis. European coastal cities such as Cadiz are exposed to tsunami risks. However, most official risk reduction strategies as well as the local population are not aware of the probability of such a phenomenon and the potential threat that tsunami waves could pose to their littoral. This paper outlines how tsunami risks, and particularly tsunami vulnerability, could be assessed and measured. To achieve this, a vulnerability assessment framework was applied focusing on the city of Cadiz as a case study in order to highlight the practical use and the challenges and gaps such an assessment has to deal with. The findings yield important information that could assist with the systematic improvement of societal response capacities of cities and their inhabitants to potential tsunami risks. Hazard and vulnerability maps were developed, and qualitative data was obtained through, for example, focused group discussions. These maps and surveys are essential for the development of a people-centred early warning and response system. Therefore, in this regard, the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and connected seas promoted by the UNESCO-Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) should encompass these assessments to ensure that action is particularly intensified and fostered by those potentially exposed. That means that besides the necessary technical infrastructure for tsunami detection, additional response and adaptation measures need to be promoted – particularly those that reduce the vulnerability of people and regions exposed – in terms of national systems. In addition, it is important to develop emergency preparedness and awareness plans in order to create an integrated regional Tsunami Early Warning System (TEWS) by 2011. The findings of the paper are based on research conducted within the framework of the EC funded project TRANSFER: "Tsunami Risk ANd Strategies For the European Region", a project that aims to improve the understanding of tsunami processes in the Euro-Mediterranean region, to develop methods and tools to assess vulnerability and risk, and to identify strategies for the reduction of tsunami risks.
Highlights
Work on tsunamis affecting Europe’s coasts often provokes scepticism among the public
Tsunamis are a low-frequency hazard in most regions, the recent tsunami that hit the island of Samoa in September 2009, the tsunami in Indonesia in 2007, and the major Indian Ocean Tsunami in December 2004 revealed the devastating effect of this type of unexpected hazard
Tsunamis of comparable size have an estimated recurrence period of eight times in 450 years (Carreno, 2005). The possibility of this type of event occurring, is hardly publicised and rarely known amongst the wider public. This experience from regions with lowfrequency but potentially disastrous hazards is mirrored on the Atlantic coasts of Spain: low-frequency often goes hand in hand with the fact that local authorities and people tend to forget the possibility of occurrence. becoming complacent about potential tsunami risks and dismissing them psychologically
Summary
Work on tsunamis affecting Europe’s coasts often provokes scepticism among the public. Tsunamis of comparable size have an estimated recurrence period of eight times in 450 years (Carreno, 2005) The possibility of this type of event occurring, is hardly publicised and rarely known amongst the wider public. This experience from regions with lowfrequency but potentially disastrous hazards is mirrored on the Atlantic coasts of Spain: low-frequency often goes hand in hand with the fact that local authorities and people tend to forget the possibility of occurrence. Birkmann et al.: The unperceived risk at Europe’s coasts tion vector data sets (UC and IGN, 2009).1 These scenarios were used to estimate the potential inundation areas and their respective socio-economic vulnerabilities. The conceptual framework applied and key findings will be shown and discussed
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