Did The Turkey Earthquake Trigger Any Tsunamis?

The devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck southern Turkey near the Syrian border on February 6th was one of the deadliest quakes worldwide in over a decade With tens of thousands killed and many more injured or displaced, Turkey is reeling from extensive damage across cities including Gaziantep, Adana, and Diyarbakır.

But amidst the catastrophic impacts on land, many are wondering – did this major seismic event also generate any tsunamis? Let’s take a closer look at whether destructive tsunami waves were triggered by the Turkey earthquake

Understanding Earthquake-Generated Tsunamis

Tsunamis are essentially giant waves most often caused by significant underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides.

During a strong offshore quake, the violent shaking displaces massive amounts of seafloor sediment and water above it. This sudden vertical drop or rise of the sea floor generates immense waves that radiate outward.

As these tsunami waves approach shorelines, their height builds as they slow down and compress in shallow coastal waters. They then smash inland with devastating hydraulic force and flooding.

So for a tsunami to form, three key factors are needed:

• Powerful undersea earthquake generally above 7.0 magnitude
• Shallow epicenter to displace seafloor
• Open ocean access for waves to propagate

Why The Turkey Earthquake Didn’t Trigger Tsunamis

The severe tectonic activity behind Turkey’s earthquake undoubtedly met the magnitude threshold to potentially cause tsunamis.

However, two other requirements were lacking:

1. Inland Epicenter – This quake was centered well inland, about 33 km east of Nurdağı, Turkey. With the epicenter located deep underground about 24 km inland, no adjacent ocean seismic activity occurred to displace seawater.

2. Restricted Sea Access – The earthquake epicenter area is landlocked, about 60 km north of the Mediterranean Sea coast. So even if underwater displacement did take place, any tsunami waves would have been blocked from propagating out to open ocean.

Therefore, while tremendously destructive on land, the geographic characteristics of Turkey’s earthquake meant it did not generate any tsunamis.

Historical Tsunamis in the Region

The Middle East-Mediterranean region has relatively low frequency of major tsunamis compared to other earthquake-prone zones like the Pacific.

But some notable historical tsunamis have impacted the area following large seaborne quakes:

• 1303 Crete Earthquake – Magnitude 8.0 quake caused 10 meter tsunami run-up heights and over 5000 deaths on Crete.

• 1956 Amorgos Island Earthquake – 8.3 magnitude quake south of Nisyros, Greece generated 10 meter tsunami waves.

• 1868 Arica Earthquake – Extreme 25 meter waves reported in parts of Peru/Chile from this 8.5 offshore quake.

• 1956 Cyprus Earthquake – 7.5 quake off southwest Cyprus triggered 4 meter tsunami along the coast.

So while rare, dangerous tsunamis have previously resulted from major regional earthquakes with marine epicenters.

Tsunami Warnings Initially Issued

In the immediate aftermath of Turkey’s severe seismic shaking, scientific organizations took quick action to assess any potential tsunami threat.

• The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center released an advisory covering the Mediterranean coast given the quake’s significant magnitude.

• Local authorities broadcast warnings advising coastal residents to evacuate to higher ground as a precaution.

• But within 2-3 hours, all tsunami warnings were officially cancelled as modeling showed no displacement.

So the process worked as intended, with rapid alerts followed by prompt cancellation once data confirmed no tsunami danger.

Tsunami Preparation Remains Key

The lack of tsunamis from the Turkey earthquake highlights the variable and complex nature of seismic events. Not all strong earthquakes generate tsunamis, as coastal proximity and seafloor displacement patterns must align.

But for regions prone to both earthquakes and tsunamis, being prepared with tsunami evacuation routes, emergency kits, alerts systems, and education remains critical to save lives when tsunamis do occur.

While the historic Turkey earthquake thankfully didn’t add tsunamis to its terrible impacts, their unpredictability will ensure they remain a deadly threat worldwide.