5:30 PM - 5:45 PM
[HSC05-09] Tsunami Early Warning-Mexico and Spain-
Keywords:tsunami, Mexico, Spain, Early Warning, Protocol, Policy
The Caribbean as well as the Mediterranean region are earthquake and tsunami-prone areas therefore many coastal countries have developed Early Warning and Awareness Policies and Protocols to predict, protect and ameliorate the impacts from these naturals hazards.
Mexico, due to its geographical location and holding more than 9,000 kilometers of coastline it faces the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean. Spain, with almost 5000 kilometers of coastline, is a country located in Western Europe facing the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Vizcaya (Cantabrian Sea). The latter has a higher population density and coastal development than the former.
The Pacific Cocos-North American subducting plate in the south west of Mexico is active earthquakes prone zone hence a potential tsunami prone area, while the presence of the Caribbean Plate could also expose its Caribbean Coastline (2). In the case of Spain, although not common, tectonic faults in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean could also be the source of earthquakes and tsunamis like the one, which occurred in 1775.
Despite this situation both countries have just recently started to develop early warning and mitigating measures and policies, which may include remote and rural areas although the concept of remoteness may be different between both countries due to their coastline length and degree of development, hence the access to information and awareness programs as well as protection and disaster amelioration in these areas may largely differ. General differences and similarities are discussed.
Mexico, due to its geographical location and holding more than 9,000 kilometers of coastline it faces the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean. Spain, with almost 5000 kilometers of coastline, is a country located in Western Europe facing the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Vizcaya (Cantabrian Sea). The latter has a higher population density and coastal development than the former.
The Pacific Cocos-North American subducting plate in the south west of Mexico is active earthquakes prone zone hence a potential tsunami prone area, while the presence of the Caribbean Plate could also expose its Caribbean Coastline (2). In the case of Spain, although not common, tectonic faults in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean could also be the source of earthquakes and tsunamis like the one, which occurred in 1775.
Despite this situation both countries have just recently started to develop early warning and mitigating measures and policies, which may include remote and rural areas although the concept of remoteness may be different between both countries due to their coastline length and degree of development, hence the access to information and awareness programs as well as protection and disaster amelioration in these areas may largely differ. General differences and similarities are discussed.