Scientific Quarterly Journal of Iranian Association of Engineering Geology

Scientific Quarterly Journal of Iranian Association of Engineering Geology

Assessing the impact of geomorphological and engineering geological factors on tsunami risk mitigation along Iran's southeastern coast, between Gavater and Pozm bays

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Department of Basic science, Faculty of Engineering geology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
2 Prof. of engineering Geology Tarbiat Modares University
Abstract
The Makran coastal area has seen significant economic and social growth in recent years, thanks to development initiatives in Iran. However, geological and seismic data indicate that a tsunami could strike the Makran coast near the Sea of Oman again, which could lead to a tragic loss of life and substantial economic damage in the region. To protect the coastlines, this study aims to create a geomorphological map of the area between the Gulfs of Gavater and Pozm, identifying the various landforms and their locations. This map will be compared with tsunami inundation maps to evaluate how the local landforms affect tsunami flow and to differentiate between safe and hazardous areas. In the next phase, the stability of the rocky coastlines will be assessed by examining the engineering properties and resistance of the rocky shores. The findings indicate that estuarine landforms, lagoon areas, mudflat regions, and coastal lowlands are the most hazardous environments in the event of tsunamis. The rocky shores of Gavater Bay, with a compressive strength of 1.97 MPa and a density of 1.68 g/cm³, are the most vulnerable to direct tsunami impacts. In contrast, the rocky shores of Beris, which have a compressive strength of 1 MPa and a density of 1.61 g/cm³, are more susceptible to the indirect effects of tsunamis.
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Volume 18, Issue 2
Summer 2026
Pages 27-55

  • Receive Date 01 September 2025
  • Revise Date 02 December 2025
  • Accept Date 02 December 2025