From Deposits to Run-Up: A Spatial Database of Tsunami Evidence in the Aegean Region

Tsunamis are among the most significant cascading marine geohazards resulting from seismic, volcanic, and submarine slope-failure processes in the highly dynamic convergent margin system of the the Aegean Sea. Yet, the assessment of tsunami hazards at regional scales is frequently constrained by the fragmented and heterogeneous documentation of tsunami evidence. The present study presents a comprehensive review and compilation of published tsunami deposits in the Aegean region into a spatially explicit database designed to improve comparability of field proxy-based observations and chronological constraints, thus supporting local and regional hazard analyses.

In particular, the database compiles heterogeneous records of tsunami-related sediments and boulder deposits, with respect to geographic location, elevation, distance from the present-day coastline and depositional context. Each event entry attribution is linked to bibliographic reference and additional contextual descriptors, including type and confidence of tsunami evidence, deposit thickness, available chronological constraints (dating techniques and age ranges) and source interpretations. Historical reports are incorporated as explicitly classified metadata, ensuring transparent distinction from geological evidence. Finally, uncertainties are systematically flagged, improving interpretability and confidence in age control. By standardizing parameters and metadata, this approach enables the consistent comparison of run-up heights and inundation distances across sites and events.

The resulting database provides a region-wide overview of the Aegean tsunami deposits distribution, correlating individual sites reporting sedimentary or boulder deposits to specific events. The database facilitates the identification of spatial patterns, uncertainties and gaps in existing records, especially of minor, rarely noticed events. Thereby, we aim to provide a solid empirical foundation for the development of tsunami scenarios, the calibration and validation of models, and the undertaking of probabilistic hazard assessments. Beyond geoscientific applications, the database has been designed for transferability to risk communication and living-laboratory frameworks, thus supporting interdisciplinary research and stakeholder-oriented approaches to tsunami risk in the Aegean region through GIS-ready outputs and standardized data.