The Horseshoe Abyssal plain Thrust could be the source of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and tsunami

Abstract The southwest Iberia margin is widely believed to have hosted the 1755 Great Lisbon earthquake and ensuing tsunami, one of most destructive natural events in European history. Here we combine geophysical data numerical tsunami modelling investigate source mechanism responsible for this event. We find that an intra-plate, lithospheric¬-scale thrust fault located at Horseshoe Abyssal Plain coincides with location focal mechanisms largest regional earthquakes likely suitable dimensions fault-rock properties account magnitude present simulations as source, they reproduce reported energy propagation patterns, arrival-times run up heights more successfully than other modelled sources. propose a reverse dip-slip on northwest verging plain Thrust, combined two-state mechanical behaviour serpentinite, candidate recent large earthquakes.