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The Tsunami of August 17, 1999 in Izmit Bay, Turkey

Natural Hazards volume 24, pages 133–146 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

The Kocaeli 1999 Earthquake with an Mw = 7.4 caused major hazards throughout the NW of Turkey from Tekirdag to Bolu. Historical data indicates that some of the earthquakes around Izmit Bay have caused tsunamis. In this study, tsunami research for the Kocaeli 1999 Earthquake has been made also taking into consideration historical data. In this research more than about 70 data at 35 localities have been used to determine the tsunami evidences in the bay. Coastal observations indicated runups which were ranging from 1 to 2.5 m along the shores. However, the wave runups are more complex along the south coast due to the presence of coastal landslides (Değirmendere, Halidere, Ulasli, Karamürsel) and subsided areas (Kavakli to Yeniköy) along the shore. West of Yalova, evidence of tsunami rapidly diminished. In addition, possible tectonic mechanism has been determined by using 33 single-channel high-resolution digital seismic reflection profiles which were acquired following the Kocaeli 1999 Earthquake. As a result it has been determined that the Kocaeli Earthquake has created tsunami in Izmit Bay.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Engineering Faculty, University of Istanbul, Turkey

    Y. Altinok & Ş Ersoy

  2. Department of Physics, University of Bologna, Italy

    S. Tinti & E. Bortolucci

  3. Institute of Marine Sciences and Management, University of Istanbul, Turkey

    B. Alpar

  4. Department of Civil Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey

    A. C. Yalçiner

  5. DIP.TE.RIS, University of Genova, Italy

    A. Armigliato

Authors
  1. Y. Altinok
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  2. S. Tinti
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  3. B. Alpar
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  4. A. C. Yalçiner
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  5. Ş Ersoy
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  6. E. Bortolucci
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  7. A. Armigliato
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Correspondence to Y. Altinok.

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Altinok, Y., Tinti, S., Alpar, B. et al. The Tsunami of August 17, 1999 in Izmit Bay, Turkey. Natural Hazards 24, 133–146 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011863610289

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011863610289

  • Tsunami
  • Izmit Bay
  • Marmara Sea
  • Coastal Landslides
  • Slumps