In the Porto Cesareo (Lecce, Italy) coastal area, submerged and semi-submerged archaeological evidence has been uncovered by recent preliminary surveys carried out in close collaboration with the local marine protected area (MPA): (a) a navis lapidaria wreck of the Roman imperial age; (b) various scattered and decontextualised fi nds; (c) a beached wreck, probably medieval; (d) some submerged built-structures that are part of the Bronze Age Scalo di Furno settlement; and (e) remains of structures (walls, buildings, burial areas). The last three pieces of evidence allow for the hypothesis of a signifi cantly different ancient coastal landscape than that of the present and a ‘dynamic’ scenario over the centuries. Keywords: coastal landscape archaeology, geo-archaeology, sea level changes, Bronze Age and Roman settlements, Porto Cesareo

The environmental survey with the digital technology acquisition of Terrestrial Laser Scanner (= TLS) nowadays represents a rapid and precise application in many fields of science and technology. The Terrestrial Laser Scanner technology integrated with differential GPS can be used in the geomorphological, geophysics, engineering and archeological applications. This kind of technology, joined with the classical methods of the archaeological area survey, allows us to study the site of interest with reduced approximation. The TLS survey methods, in fact, let us not only a fast acquisition of data but also the possibility to take advantage of the points cloud for a lot of the final purposes, such as the three-dimensional reconstruction of the scenario and the creation of a rendering of a particular detail.

Flour and oil millstones coastal quarries could be used as sea level markers. Our paper examines some unpublished millstones coastal sites in southern Italy: Capo d’Orlando and Letojanni on Sicily; Soverato, Tropea and Capo dell’Armi on Calabria; Palinuro, Scario and Castellabate on Campania, San Vito-Polignano on Puglia. A review of the intended use of these artefacts shows the longevity of the cylindrical millstone with the diameter greater than one meter as a useful tool for the processing of both oil and cereals; this longevity makes it difficult to specify the chronological range of the majority of the studied sites; only one site provides an accurate chronological period of the use of the quarry: at Molare Scario (Sa), due to the presence of stratigraphic deposits radiocarbon aged. The values of depth below sea level, and the chronology of this site coincide perfectly with the point predicted by the sea level glacio-hydro-isostatic curve. Positioning on the curve points according to their depth below the sea level of the other stable sites (S. Vito di Polignano, Palinuro, Castellabate), we could calculate the possible dating of the other sites, with an inverse process to that usually applied.

The downtown of Polignano a Mare lies on a small promontory characterized by a carbonate cliff ranging between 13 and 22 m height constituted by Calcare di Bari at the base and by Calcarenite di Gravina at the top. The cliff is vertical or locally overhanging and continues 2-5 m below sea level. The coastal stretch studied is characterised by five wide caves and a series of smaller cavities, different in shape and height along the cliff face, even below sea level. At place, the cliff is prone to instability phenomena due to a complex geostructural setting and sea wave action. In this study, we present a new multidirectional method for assessing cliff instability susceptibility at a given scale (CISA, Cliff Instability Susceptibility Assessment). The method is based on the “expert evaluation” approaches and is completed by morphological analysis, morphoevolutive models, geomechanical surveys and bythe estimate of the critical heights for vertical cliffs using the lower bound theorem of limit analysis. The coastal stretch was divided in 8 sectors based on morphological affinity and then 23 incidence parameters were considered and determined. These parameters were divided in four categories: geomechanical (12), morphological (5), sea-wave (5) and anthropogenic (1). For each parameter 5 classes of rating were proposed; the cliff classification, in terms of instability susceptibility, was obtain from the total rating which represents the summation of the single rating of the individual parameter.

The Mediterranean basin is an important area of the Earth for studying the interplay between geodynamic processes and landscape evolution affected by tectonic, glacio-hydro-isostatic and eustatic factors. We focus on determining vertical deformations and relative sea-level change of the coastal zone utilizing geological, archaeological, historical and instrumental data, and modelling. For deformation determinations on recent decadal to centennial time scales, seismic strain analysis based on about 6000 focal mechanisms, surface deformation analysis based on some 850 continuous GPS stations, and 57 tide gauge records were used. Utilizing data from tectonically stable areas, reference surfaces were established to separate tectonic and climate (eustatic) signals throughout the basin for the last 20 000 years. Predominant Holocene subsidence (west coast of Italy, northern Adriatic sea, most of Greece and Turkey are areas at risk of flooding owing to relative sea-level rise), uplift (local areas in southwestern Italy and southern Greece) or stability (northwestern and central western Mediterranean and Levant area) were determined. Superimposed on the long trends, the coasts are also impacted by sudden extreme events such as recurring large storms and numerous, but unpredictable tsunamis caused by the high seismicity of parts of the basins.

The perimeter of Salento Peninsula (southern Apulia, Italy) is studded by numerous coastal towers built in the XVI century aiming to create an “early warning system” against pirates’ attacks. At present, two of them, Fiumicelli tower on the Adriatic coast and Pali tower on the Ionian one, have bases a few decimeters below mean sea level. The unusual position of both coastal towers can be explained by taking into account geomorphological features of the coastal area and the relative sea level change during the last 500 years. Geomorphological analysis reveals the occurrence directly in front of the two coastal towers of a wide rocky shore platform to about 1 m depth. If a mean sea level about 0.6e1.0 m below present position is supposed at the time of coastal tower construction, the wide shore platform would be slightly above sea level and would be able to protect the towers from sea storms. Furthermore, by comparing these data with the results of available glacio-hydro-isostatic models for southern Apulia during the late Holocene, it is possible to postulate tectonic subsidence of the Salento coastal area during the last five centuries. The collated data establish the Quaternary tectonic history of Salento Peninsula. It experienced a period of general subsidence during the Lower Pleistocene that was interrupted by rapid uplift during the Middle Pleistocene. Uplift stopped at MIS 9.3 (about 330 ka), replaced by a phase of substantial stability which lasted until the Late PleistoceneeHolocene. Finally, active tectonic subsidence has affected the coast of Salento peninsula during the last four millennia probably in response to the recent doming of the region.

Italian coasts are marked by sediments and landforms which suggest the impact of catastrophic marine processes like tsunamis. They are represented by: i – large boulders weighing more than a ton, which can be found isolated, sparse in fields or arranged in belts; ii – marine sand/silt layers interbedded with backdune/coastal swamp; iii – anomalous strata placed inside shelf depositional sequence; iv – large washover fans in backdune areas. Recent research carried out along the Mediterranean coasts recognized the geological evidence of at least 15 different tsunamis occurred during the last 6000 years. Chronological data related to these events have been obtained by C14/AMS analysis performed on biogenic material associated to tsunami sediments and forms. Unfortunately, absolute age determinations yield a more or less wide range of age. Then, it is not possible to single out a seismic event responsible for tsunami generation without compared absolute age data to historical chronicle and archive data.

The estimation of the inundation limit of a tsunami wave is, among other factors, influenced by coastal roughness as expressed by Manning's coefficient. The Manning number is an empirically derived coefficient, which is dependent on many features including surface roughness and sinuosity. It is calculated by using the empirical formula for open channel flow, or for free-surface flow driven by gravity. In this study, the Manning coefficient was estimated by directly measuring the roughness of a surface by means of a Terrestrial Laser Scanner. This kind of survey generates point clouds useful to obtain a digital elevation model (DEM) and the standard deviation of the surface micro-topography. Applying different hypothesized tsunami wave heights, it is possible to obtain a specific Manning number for each surface and material typology. This new methodology was tested in two coastal sectors of the Apulia region (Southern Italy) where, within previous studies, evidence of past tsunamis was found.

Along the rocky coasts of Bonaire boulders are arranged in clusters and/or ramparts; they represent the imprints of the impact of catastrophic waves induced by storms, hurricanes and tsunamis. The coast of Bonaire was surveyed in order to identify boulders that show unambiguous evidence of either a tsunami or a hurricane impact. In particular, the detailed surveys of two localities - Boka Washikemba and Spelonk Lighthouse showed boulders broken into several pieces; this singularity is indicative of a unique depositional event. Moreover, detailed measures on the 15 largest boulders were taken in order to obtain their a-, b-, c-axes, their landward position from the coastline and altitude above mean sea level. These data were needed to evaluate the pre-transport setting and to estimate the paleo-wave energy responsible for their deposition. Applying the most recent equations derived by a morphological and hydrodynamic model, the minimum wave height either induced by tsunami or storm were able to detach and transport the boulders and these have been calculated. In case of storm waves, the minimum calculated height for transporting blocks was 13 28 m; this wave height is very improbable even in the case of the strongest hurricane. A tsunami whose minimum calculated wave height capable of moving the boulders ranges from 3 and 7 m would be more probable. With magnitudes of impacting waves an inundation model was developed; the minimum flooding of past tsunami is assessed to be around 100-140 m according to geomorphological evidence and the main coastal parameters influencing wave inundation (such as coastal slope, surface roughness and bathymetry).

Four 1:15,000 maps for the coastal area of Mar Piccolo (Taranto, southern Italy) are presented. The study area is a small, sheltered shallow marine basin of about 20 km2, located north of Taranto town. It contains some submarine, karstic freshwater springs (citri) that have determined the development of intensive aquaculture in the past. Now, the Mar Piccolo is a highly polluted area due to the presence of both military and industrial navy docks and various heavy industries located in proximal areas: (i) the ILVA steel plant in Taranto, the largest in Europe; (ii) the ENI oil refinery and (iii) the CEMENTIR, the largest cement and concrete plant in southern Italy. Many studies show that water and sediments are contaminated (heavy metals, isopropyl alcohol, polychlorinated biphenyl [PCB], etc.), and various remediation projects are now in preparation. In this study, we analyze the physical characteristics of the Mar Piccolo environment by producing several maps: a geological map; a geomorphological map; a bathy-morphological map and a map of the thickness of surficial sediment. All these maps are original products focused on the realization of a reliable geological picture for the Mar Piccolo area. They represent the first steps toward the detailed knowledge of the Mar Piccolo physical environment, which we consider to be a fundamental requirement for developing the most appropriate remediation techniques.

Gli specchi di acqua del Mar Piccolo e del Mar Grande sono situati nel vertice settentrionale del Golfo di Taranto, in un’area di transizione fra le estreme propaggini meridionali dell’altopiano delle Murge, la Piana di Taranto e Brindisi, la Valle di Taranto nell’omonimo golfo e la fascia terrazzata della costa ionica della Basilicata. Essi sono in diretta connessione fra loro e quindi con il Golfo di Taranto e definiscono un sistema ambientale complesso e di grande fascino paesaggistico che ha accolto la città di Taranto attraverso la presenza di abitati dell’Età del Bronzo (c.ca 3500 BP) distribuiti lungo le sue coste sino alla sua fondazione - per la storia nel 706 a.C. - da coloni Spartani.

Il 28 novembre 2012 un tornado ha interessato le provincie di Taranto e Bari attraversando la Puglia dal Mare Jonio al Mare Adriatico. Il rilievo sul terreno ha permesso di ricostruirne il percorso, stimarne l’intensità ed individuare, in relazione all’orografi a, la possibile vulnerabilità del territorio rispetto a fenomeni naturali di tale entità.

The need to cr eate an integrated maritime policy underline by the European Commission has been taken on board in Italy through the achievement of the Program RITMA RE, the Italian Researc h for the Sea. Concerning of this project, has been drafted a list of scientific references about tsunami events that occ urr ed in Italy. The articles have been collected through the consultation of digital libraries; arr anged by area of study and inserted into a geographic database. This geo-database has been used for GIS implementation, subsequently published on the web, via map serv er, on the site of the program Ritmare (www.ritmare.it).

The Adriatic coastal area stretching from Monopoli to Brindisi in Apulia is characterised by landforms and marine/coastal deposits of Middle- Upper Pleistocene age. An E-W striking fault system, roughly corresponding to the geographic “Soglia Messapica”, is also present. This area shows the effects of different phases of coastal evolution. During the Middle Pleistocene, north of the Soglia Messapica, thin coastal deposits accumulated and abrasion surfaces were cut whereas, to the south, marine sediments were deposited. During the last interglacial period, two thin transgressive beach deposits formed along with a dune belt and backdune deposits. From the geodynamic point of view, facies and elevation of marine and coastal deposits suggest that before 125 ka the region north of the Soglia Messapica was uplifting with a higher rate than the southern one. Afterwards, both areas north and south of the Soglia Messapica showed a similar tectonic behaviour, characterised by stability or, locally, by low subsidence rates. Mesostructural analysis on extensional joints indicates that at least three separate deformational events occurred during the Middle and Late Quaternary. If matched against the uplift rate changes, this structural evolution may be interpreted as due to the shift toward the SE of the peripheral bulge related to the Ionian slab subduction process and to the set up of a different tectonic event in the Late Pleistocene. In the study area such event is essentially characterised by widespread stability, accompanied by the development of joint sets which suggest a doming-like deformation mechanism.

The coasts of Italy still preserve several remnants of coastal quarries built in antiquity, that now provide insights into the intervening sea-level changes occurred during the last millennia. In this paper, we show and discuss a new class of sea level indicator consisting of millstones carved along the rocky coast of southern Italy since 2500 BP, that are currently submerged. They were extracted from beachrocks, sandstones or similar sedimentary rocks, easier for carving by ancient carving tools. Our study focuses on 10 coastal sites located at Capo d’Orlando, Avola, and Letojanni, in Sicily; Soverato, Tropea, and Capo dell’Armi, in Calabria; Castellabate, Palinuro, and Scario, in Campania; and Polignano San Vito, in Apulia. Unfortunately, only limited archaeological information is available for these anthropic structures. Scario, one of these millstone quarries discussed here, has been dated through independent archaeological remains, allowing us to restrict the exploitation age to the end of XVII century. Present day elevations of these coastal sites were obtained through geo-archaeological surveys calibrated using the nearest tidal stations, together with geomorphological and tectonic interpretations. Data were compared against the latest sea level predictions based on glacio-hydro-isostatic models. Our results allow proposal of the age-range of these millstone quarries and to estimate the intervening relative sea level changes since the time when they were carved.

Terrestrial Laser Scanner surveys performed in coastal area have generated 3D cloud points used to obtain digital elevation model and standard deviation of the micro-topography of coastal surfaces. Starting from data collected, roughness. coefficients have been estimated for each surface typology characterizing the coastal area (sand calcarenite, vegetation, etc). Applying Machine Learning techniques on digital images, the extension and the surface typology of these areas have been obtained. All data collected have been elaborated by means of software implemented stalling from known hydrodynamic formula to evaluate the inland penetration of a hypothesized tsunami.

Ushant Island is the westernmost island offshore western France. It is exposed to severe storms. The western peninsulas of the island are partly covered with boulder fields, the origin of which is an open question. On March 10, 2008 a very severe storm (973 hPa) was able to move some of these blocks and to raft them over several tens of meters. The heaviest block weighs about 62 tons. Some blocks were located in the intertidal zone, others were above the spring tide limit and were detached from the cliff during the storm. Most of the blocks had already existed before; thus, the event which actually caused their detachment was not the March 2008 storm. When applied to this case, the hydro-dynamical equations by NOTT would suggest a storm with wave heights of 12 to 50 meters. New equations by the authors reduce these values to about 8 to 32 meters. Anyhow, these heights have never been recorded in Ushant. These results thus lead to the hypothesis that the blocks were not created by a storm but by a tsunami, possibly the one of 1755 (Lisbon Tsunami). The important point is that these blocks have a polygenetic origin: they were detached from their initial location by an event which cannot have been a storm, but subsequently they were moved by each severe storm. Boulder fields on Ushant Island, therefore, seem to be polygenetic coastal high energy event features.

The Adriatic foreland of the Apennines comes ashore only in Apulia (easternmost Italy). Its southern part, our study area, lacks any structural analysis devoted to define its recent-to-active tectonics. Throughout the Quaternary, this region was affected by mild brittle deformation with rare faults, characterized by small displacement, and widespread extension joints, frequently organized in sets. Therefore, we conducted a quantitative and systematic analysis of the joint sets affecting Quaternary deposits, by applying an inversion technique ad hoc to infer the orientation and ratio of the principal stress axes, R=(sigma(2) - sigma(3))/(sigma(1) - sigma(3)). Within a general extensional regime, we recognized three deformational events of regional significance. The oldest event, constrained to the early and middle part of the Middle Pleistocene, is characterized by variable direction of extension and R between 0.64 and 0.99. The penultimate event, dated late Middle Pleistocene, is characterized by an almost uniaxial tension, with a horizontal sigma 3 striking similar to N43 degrees E; R is high, between 0.85 and 0.99. The most recent event is characterized by the low-ermost R values, that never exceed 0.47 and are frequently <0.30, indicating a sort of horizontal 'radial' extension. This event is not older than the Late Pleistocene and possibly reflects the active stress field still dominating the entire study area. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The presence of a coralligenic-like bioherm constituted by boulders up to 1.2 m in diameter cemented by bioconcretions of calcareous algae and Vermetids spp. has been recognized in the southernmost part of Kerkira Island. This biostructure is placed at up to w1.4 m above the present mean sea level. A few hundred meters north, well developed beach rocks are at about the same elevation. The morphological continuity of these landforms allows us to hypothesize that a recent coseismic uplift interested this area. AMS age determination has been performed on different Vermetids sampled in the upper part of the raised bioherm. Moreover, a complete review of the chronological data cited in the bibliography highlights the difficulties in the use of some bioindicators as chronologically precise sea level indicators. The entire data set suggests a Late Holocene tectonic behaviour characterized by sequences of subsidence and coseismic uplift. In particular, the age of the raised bioherm suggests that a coseismic uplift occurred w3 ka BP due to an earthquake of regional interest capable of generating a strong tsunami that impacted the nearest coast of Lefkada Island and the Plaghia Peninsula.

The Maddalena Peninsula coastline (south-eastern Sicily, Italy) is characterised by the occurrence of a boulder field associated to an extended soil stripping area and by a gravel/sandy berm. The accumulation of the boulders has been correlated to the impact of the December 28, 1908 tsunami wave. The use of Terrestrial Laser Scanner survey techniques, associated to Digital Global Positioning System determinations, permits to obtain new data for the assessment of tsunami impact on this coastal area. The computing of the surveyed data using the most recent equations is a useful tool in order to estimate the theoretic inundation limit and to reconstruct its variability in function of the boulders size and of the coastal topography. Moreover, the entire new data set allows to confirm that the hypothesis of the tsunami impact is the most reasonable to explain the occurrence of boulder up to 50 tons heavy on the Maddalena Peninsula.

An extended berm of calcarenitic boulders is recognisable at Punta Saguerra, a few kilometres south of Taranto (Apulia, Italy) while isolated boulders are sparse in other near localities. The berm is at 2-5 m above present sea level (a.p.s.l), on a rocky headland gently sloping toward the sea; it is separated from the coastline by a large terrace. A detailed study of its stratigraphy and its morphology has been performed in order to define its depositional mechanism; in particular, integrated DGPS and Laser Scanner surveys have provided precise details of each boulder: position, size and distance from the shoreline. The accumulation is constitute of boulders up to 30 tons, which locally are arranged in rows of embricated patterns. The surfaces of the biggest boulders are characterised by biogenic encrustations and by solution potholes that indicate their intertidal/adlittoral/spray zone provenience. Based on direct observations of each boulder (size, shape, weight and long axis azimuth), together with hydrodynamic equations it is possible to hypothesize the extreme event – geodynamic or meteorological – which was responsible for this singular accumulation. Together AMS age determination on Vermetid sp. sampled from boulder surfaces and chronicle data suggest that the accumulation may be attributed to the tsunami generated by the strong earthquake that occurred on April 24, 1836, the epicentre of which has been localised near Rossano Calabro, along the Ionian coast of northern Calabria.

The Salento peninsula is a well-known Apulian tourist area. Its peculiar geological and geomorphological features also have attracted numerous researchers during the last 150 years. The importance of the Salento geological heritage and identification of key sites was determined by literature review, assessment of the records of field trips in and around the Salento area during scientific geological meetings, and conferences over the last 30 years, using a geographical information system. Furthermore, these sites identified are the Otranto-Castro and Gallipoli-Porto Selvaggio coastal areas, the area of Leuca as well as the area between Cursi and Melpignano. The Otranto-Castro area contains Late Cretaceous Rudist reefs and Ammonites, an Upper Oligocene reef complex, as well as Lower Pleistocene calcarenites containing slumps and erosional features. The coastal landscape is marked by boulder accumulations produced by a historical tsunami. The Gallipoli-Porto Selvaggio area is noted for its abundant remains of Strombus bubonius Lamarck. In Porto Selvaggio, there is a rich fossiliferous association with abundant taxa offish found in Cretaceous dolomitic and calcareous layers, with the rocks showing thin chert layers and spectacular slump features that had been triggered by tectonic activity. The Leuca area is the location for the stratotype of the Leuca Formation and by the occurrence of Grotta del Diavolo, a coastal cave that exhibits polycyclic evolution in the Middle Pleistocene. Finally, the Cursi-Melpignano area is important for its numerous quarries of Pietra Leccese Formation that have yielded numerous fossils of Miocene marine vertebrates. The results from the analysis point to the valuable geological heritage of the Salento area which is still completely unexploited by the local tourist industry. Data reported in this paper could be usefully integrated in plans aiming to build a cultural tourist attraction in Salento area.

Morphological analysis of the Fortore River coastal plain and the Lesina Lake coastal barrier integrated with radiocarbon age data indicates that the evolution of the coastal landscape has been strongly affected by a number of strong earthquakes and related tsunamis which occurred during the last 3000 years. The first seismic event struck this coastal area in the V century BC. It produced strong erosion of the Fortore River coastal plain and significant emersion of Punta delle Pietre Nere, as well as the large tsunami responsible for the development of the Sant'Andrea washover fan. The second event occurred in 493 AD; it induced severe erosion of the Fortore River coastal plain and triggered the large tsunami that hit the Lesina Lake coastal barrier, producing the Foce Cauto washover fan. Then later in 1627, an earthquake was responsible for the further coseismic uplift of Punta delle Pietre Nere, the subsidence of Lesina village area and the development of a tsunami which produced two washover fans. Morphological analysis points out that seismic events strong enough to control the morphological evolution of local coastal landscapes show a statistical return period of about 1000 years. These major events produced important coseismic vertical movements and large tsunamis. However, the correct identification of the tectonic structure responsible for the generation of these strong earthquakes is still an unsolved problem.

The Salento peninsula is the heel of the boot drawn by the perimeter of the Italian coastline. It is placed to the south of the alignment Brindisi-Taranto cities, between the Ionian and the Adriatic seas. Its geological structure is made of a thick Mesozoic carbonate sequence covered by Tertiary and Quaternary deposits. The landscape evolution is the result of the interaction between tectonics, karst and marine processes controlled by climate and sea level changes. The landscape of Salento peninsula is mainly composed of landforms due to the action of waters, both continental and marine ones, notwithstanding it is known to be a region without extended surficial drainage catchments.

RITMARE is the Italian contribution to a sea research program promoted by the European Commission aiming to create an integrated maritime policy. In this context a geodatabase about tsunami events recorded along the Italian coasts, as reported in recent scientific papers, has been realized. Each scientific paper occurring in the geodatabase is linked to its area of interest by means of a Geographical Information System (GIS). The geodatabase is available on the RITMARE website (www.ritmare.it) through a map server.

Tsunami are high energy events which have heavy morphological impacts on the shore lines. A review of the literature shows that these impacts are very difficult to differentiate from large storms impacts in most of the cases. This paper begins with a description of tsunami impacts, at a local scale, in terms of erosion and of accumulation. It studies cases where tsunami accelerate “normal” behaviour of the coast or, on the other hand go against expected normal behaviour. In order to better understand the relative roles of tsunamis and storms, the local forms are replaced within a regional scale/context and some important regions (Mediterranean Sea, New Zealand, the Antilles) are taken as examples of the interrelation between storm-forced evolution and tsunami – controlled behaviour.

The worldwide growth of coastal urbanization has induced even more populous concentrations of cities, industrial complexes, power stations - also nuclear -, and harbours etc..., in event-vulnerable coastal areas. Coastal areas are prone to paroxysmal events of different origins posing major threats to its natural and anthropic features. Recent meteorological- and/or geodynamic-genetic events resulted in severe economic damage and significant loss of life. In particular, tsunami can hit any coastal zone in the world with short or no-alarm period. In the Mediterranean basin, the short distance substantially annuls this possibility. In addition, the concept of ICZM underlines the necessity to consider every morpho-dynamic event in relation to human activities. The task is the implementation of scientific and cultural systems and tools capable of supporting effective coastal management, suggesting tsunami risk maps for example which would be essential for coastal planners to realize effective civil-protection measures and procedures

The presence of mega-boulders scattered landward along gently sloping rocky coasts is attributed to the impact of tsunami or of exceptional storms. Considering the original position and the size of the largest boulder is possible to estimate the characteristics of the wave that moved them in the past, and then estimate the maximum inundation. The present roughness of the coastal area conditions the capacity of the tsunami inland penetration in case of a future event. The knowledge of the parameters of the possible tsunami together with the coastal topography and roughness make possible to estimate automatically scenarios of probable flooding