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INVITATION THE EARTHQUAKE OF 10 SEPTEMBER 1509, THURSDAY ~ 22:00 Anatolia and the surroundings play an important role in deciphering geological problems of the eastern Mediterranean region because they appear to represent a geological knot where many different belts converge. Therefore the data derived from the region and the knowledge obtained from those are critical in assesing and evaluating the problems that the Earth Scientists deal with. Furthermore, the development of human civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean region has been profoundly influenced by earthquakes and associated tsunamis since earliest recorded history (Ambraseys 2002; Guidoboni et al., 1994, 2005; Nur and Burgess, 2008). Earthquakes continue to have a major influence on social development as demonstrated by the devastating impact of recent earthquakes in Armenia (1988), Iran (1992, 2003), and Turkey (1992, 1999). Ambraseys (2001) emphasizes the need for systematic and consistent analysis of historical earthquake data and sets an example of the earthquake of 10 September 1509, which was associated with an inferred 70 ± 30-km long offshore fault break in the Sea of Marmara (Mw 7.2 ± 0.3) and with widespread damage in Istanbul and the adjacent region. Information about the effects of the 1509 earthquake is available from both Turkish and occidental sources. The period is a little too early for ample Ottoman archival evidence and too late for Byzantine. Furthermore, the Marmara Sea region is a densely populated and fast-developing part of Turkey, which includes greater Istanbul, a megacity of about 13 million inhabitants. This region was seismically active during the twentieth century, with two large earthquakes in 1912 Saroz-Gaziköy (Ms 7.3) and 1999 Gölcük-Kocaeli (Ms 7.4), which raises the question of short- and long-term seismicity that must be addressed in any realistic assessment of the earthquake hazard in this populous area. Although earth scientists and engineers are aware of the value of historical data and are alert to their inherent limitations, the effects of these limitations are seldom examined (Guidoboni et al., 1994; Guidoboni and Comastri, 2005). In addition, another important issue is that the historical details must be assessed in the perspective of the actual social, economic, and political situations at the time of the event. This symposium is aimed at bringing together scientists from around the world and from the Eastern Mediterranean region to assess current understanding of earthquake generation processes with emphasis on those physical factors that control earthquake locations, timing, and magnitude. The Organising and Executive Committees invites you to participate in the Symposium which will be held in Istanbul on the 500th anniversary year of the 1509 earthquake during 10 - 12 September 2009 at The Faculty of Architecture, Istanbul Technical University, Taşkışla 102-109-127, Taksim, Istanbul - Turkey.
Prof.Dr. Tuncay Taymaz, Chairman of the Symposium |
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The 1509 Marmara Earthquake *
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