Euro-Mediterranean Paleotsunami Database

An open and interoperable resource for the study of past tsunamis in the Mediterranean.

Paleotsunami trench showing sedimentary layers. The CE 365 paleotsunami deposit as recorded along the coast of SE Sicily, Italy (800 km far from the causative source in Crete, Greece)

About the Dataset

This database collects scientific data on paleotsunami deposits in the Euro-Mediterranean area. It aims to provide crucial information for tsunami hazard assessment and the development of inundation scenarios.

The data includes information on the location, stratigraphic characteristics, and dating of the deposits, offering a long-term view of the frequency and impact of tsunamis in the region. The first dataset included was produced in the framework of the EU-FP7 ASTARTE project.

Open Data Access (OGC WFS)

The dataset is freely accessible via standard OGC (Web Feature Service). You can download the complete data in various formats or connect directly using GIS software.

FAIR level 3, score 100 (2026-02-17 15:21:38)

Creative Commons License The dataset is released under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license. You are free to share and adapt the material for any purpose, provided you give appropriate credit.

Download the Full Dataset:

⬇️ Download CSV ⬇️ Download GeoJSON ⬇️ Download Shapefile

For GIS Software (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS):

Use the following URL to add the WFS service to your GIS project:

https://services.tsunamidata.org/PALEOTSUNAMI/ows?service=WFS&request=GetCapabilities

How to Cite

If you use this dataset in your research, please cite it as follows:

De Martini, P. M., et al. (2017). The ASTARTE Paleotsunami Deposits data base-a web-based reference. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia. https://doi.org/10.13127/tsunami/paleodeposits

Attributes dictionary

Attribute name Attribute description
name Name of the Compiler of the record
sitename Name of the investigation site quoted in literature or, if none a reasonable name from a nearby locality.
objectid Identifier
yearinvestigationfrom The age range of investigation of the site, from
yearinvestigationto The age range of investigation of the site, to
country Country of the site location
region Region of the site location
province Province of the site location
sitegeometry Point if are reported results obtained from an individual point (e.g. a core), Area if are reported results from different observational points (e.g. several cores)
radius When “Area” is selected the maximum extension of the area (radius in meters) is also reported
latitude Latitude in degrees expressed as a decimal fraction (i.e., 00.0000 ); north is positive value
longitude Longitude in degrees expressed as a decimal fraction (i.e., 00.0000 ); east is positive value
datum Kind of datum: ED50, ETRF89, Roma40 or WGS84
elevation Elevation in meters of the site above (positive value) or below (negative value) the present sea level
elevationtype GPS or Topographic map, unknown if not available
distance Maximum distance in meters of the site from the present shoreline
timeall Maximum age of the observed sequence (Yr BP)
numofevents The number of tsunami events recognized in the site
sitedescription The field provides a narrative on the site
sitenotes The field provides additional information for the site description
timestamp The filed provides the time of the data insertion
site_idsite Identifier
reference_idsite Identifier
authors List of authors of the reference document
title Title of the reference document
publication Journal of the reference document
volume Volume of the journal of the reference document
issue Issue of the journal of the reference document
pages Number of pages of the reference document
year Year of publication of the reference document
doi Digital identifier of the reference document
url Uniform resource locator of the reference document
abstract Abstract of the reference document
contactname Contact author of the reference document
contactemail E-mail contact of the author of the reference document
compiler_idsite Identifier of the compiler
surname Surname of the compiler
affiliation Affiliation of the compiler
acronym Acronym of the affiliation
email email address of the compiler
geomorphicsetting_idsite Identifier
areaprotecteddunes Option for geomorphic setting characterization
coastallake Option for geomorphic setting characterization
coastalmarsh Option for geomorphic setting characterization
estuary Option for geomorphic setting characterization
fluvialplain Option for geomorphic setting characterization
offshore Option for geomorphic setting characterization
rockycoast Option for geomorphic setting characterization
geomorphicsetting_other The field provides additional information for the site geomorphic setting description
typeofsite_idsite Identifier
artificialcut Option for type of site identification
coast Option for type of site identification
enginecore Option for type of site identification
exploratorytrench Option for type of site identification
handcore Option for type of site identification
naturalexposure Option for type of site identification
typeofsite_other The field provides additional information for the site identification
event_idsite Identifier
depth The depth of the tsunami deposit in meters with respect to the present ground surface/sea bottom
thicknessordimension The maximum value in meters of a tsunami layer or the max axis for blocks
evidencedescription Free narrative on the process followed for the recognition of the tsunami deposit
labyoungestagelya Numeric value of the youngest laboratory age as yr BP (before present)
lyastddev Standard deviation Error of the laboratory youngest radiocarbon age
youngestcalagemin Minimum youngest age as yr AD/BC (yr AD positive values and yr BC negative values). The field reports the dendrochronologically corrected age for Radiocarbon, historical/archeological estimates
youngestcalagemax Maximum youngest age as yr AD/BC (yr AD positive values and yr BC negative values). The field reports the dendrochronologically corrected age for Radiocarbon, historical/archeological estimates
laboldestage Numeric value of the oldest laboratory age as yr BP (before present)
loastddev Standard deviation Error of the laboratory oldest radiocarbon age
oldestcalagemin Minimum oldest age as yr AD/BC (yr AD positive values and yr BC negative values). The field reports the dendrochronologically corrected age for Radiocarbon, historical/archeological estimates
oldestcalagemax Maximum oldest age as yr AD/BC (yr AD positive values and yr BC negative values). The field reports the dendrochronologically corrected age for Radiocarbon, historical/archeological estimates
preferredagemin Minimum preferred ages for the tsunami (yr AD positive values and yr BC negative values)
preferredagemax Maximum preferred ages for the tsunami (yr AD positive values and yr BC negative values)
historicalage Year of a potential tsunamigenic earthquake/landslide/eruption occurred within the interval of the time defined for the tsunami (yr AD positive values and yr BC negative values)
eventdescription Short discussion about the type of dated materials (if marine, it’s should be specify the Delta R), the position with respect to the tsunami deposit to be dated, pertinent problems and any information that is considered as relevant
eventnotes The field reports additional information for the event description
event_idevent Identifier
dating_idevent Identifier
archaeological Option for type of dating technique applied
cs137 Option for type of dating technique applied
osl Option for type of dating technique applied
paleontology Option for type of dating technique applied
palynology Option for type of dating technique applied
pb210 Option for type of dating technique applied
radiocarbon Option for type of dating technique applied
sedimentationrate Option for type of dating technique applied
tephrachronology Option for type of dating technique applied
thermoluminescence Option for type of dating technique applied
dating_other The field provides additional information for the dating technique applied
typeofanalysis_idevent Identifier
environmental Option for type of analysis applied
geochemical Option for type of analysis applied
magnetic Option for type of analysis applied
micromorphological Option for type of analysis applied
paleontological Option for type of analysis applied
sedimentological Option for type of analysis applied
x_ray Option for type of analysis applied
typeofanalysis_other The field provides additional information for the analysis applied
typeofevidence_idevent Identifier
geomorphology Option for type of tsunami event evidence
sediment Option for type of tsunami event evidence
transportedblock Option for type of tsunami event evidence
typeofevidence_other The field provides additional information for type of tsunami event evidence

Legacy landing page

If you are looking for the legacy landing page hosted in ArcGIS Online, please, use the following link.