A revision of the Catalogue of tsunamis on the Spanish coast

Abstract. Spain faces significant exposure to tsunami risk due to its extensive coastline and location between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Historical records confirm that tsunamis have impacted the Spanish coast in the past, although such events have been relatively infrequent. In this context, a comprehensive review of tsunami catalogues, historical documents, scientific literature, and marigrams was conducted to compile an updated Catalogue of tsunamis on the Spanish coast, which is presented here.

To assess the reliability of the various historically claimed tsunami events, the available contemporary primary sources were critically reappraised. This process allowed the incorporation of new relevant information for some events, thereby refining their assigned reliability scores. Conversely, events included in previous compilations that lack support from credible historical sources or instrumental data were discarded.

The new catalogue comprises a total of 16 tsunami events, including those with a reliability index of probable and definite. Specifically, the compilation follows the parameterization criteria employed by the Euro-Mediterranean tsunami catalogue, where geological evidence is not considered; therefore, such information is included as complementary data.

The updated information provided for each tsunami and its generating cause, along with detailed descriptions of the observed effects in the affected localities, offers a better understanding of the tsunami hazard on the Spanish coasts.