Greek team develops first ever scale measuring tsunamis
A Greek research team at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has developed the first ever scale assessing the intensity of the impact of tsunamis. The research project was presented in Athens earlier this month.
The New Integrated Tsunami Intensity Scale 2012 (ITIS2012) uses a 12-grade magnitude scale which is compatible with similar scales recording earthquakes.
“We are very satisfied that our scale is the first of its kind,” said Efthymis Lekkas, Professor of Dynamic Tectonic Applied Geology and president of the Geological Society of Greece, who led the research team, speaking to AMNA.
According to Lekkas, prior to the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, the phenomenon had not been witnessed in 40 years. A tsunami also hit Japan in 2011.
“The scale can be used everywhere: in agricultural, tourist, industrial and urban areas, as a variety of parameters are taken into account,” said Lekkas.
The research was recently published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America.
