A theoretical comparison of tsunamis from dislocations and landslides

Emile A. Okal; Costas E. Synolakis

doi:10.1007/s00024-003-2425-x

A theoretical comparison of tsunamis from dislocations and landslides

Emile A. Okal^*, Costas E. Synolakis

^*Corresponding author for this work

Earth and Planetary Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

89 Scopus citations

Abstract

We use simple physical models to evaluate and compare the orders of magnitude of the energy generated into a tsunami wave by seismic dislocations and underwater slumps. We conclude that the two sources can generate tsunamis of comparable total energy. However, the slumping source is shown to be fundamentally dipolar in nature, which results in a low-frequency deficiency in the far-field. These simple conclusions corroborate the interpretation of the 1998 Papua New Guinea tsunami as being generated by an underwater slump.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	2177-2188
Number of pages	12
Journal	Pure and Applied Geophysics
Volume	160
Issue number	10-11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-003-2425-x
State	Published - Oct 2003

Funding

The presentation of this research at the March 2000 workshop on tsunamis and landslides in Los Angeles was supported by the National Science Foundation.

Keywords

Landslides
Seismic sources
Tsunamis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geophysics
Geochemistry and Petrology

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10.1007/s00024-003-2425-x

Cite this

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AU - Synolakis, Costas E.

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N2 - We use simple physical models to evaluate and compare the orders of magnitude of the energy generated into a tsunami wave by seismic dislocations and underwater slumps. We conclude that the two sources can generate tsunamis of comparable total energy. However, the slumping source is shown to be fundamentally dipolar in nature, which results in a low-frequency deficiency in the far-field. These simple conclusions corroborate the interpretation of the 1998 Papua New Guinea tsunami as being generated by an underwater slump.

AB - We use simple physical models to evaluate and compare the orders of magnitude of the energy generated into a tsunami wave by seismic dislocations and underwater slumps. We conclude that the two sources can generate tsunamis of comparable total energy. However, the slumping source is shown to be fundamentally dipolar in nature, which results in a low-frequency deficiency in the far-field. These simple conclusions corroborate the interpretation of the 1998 Papua New Guinea tsunami as being generated by an underwater slump.

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A theoretical comparison of tsunamis from dislocations and landslides

Abstract

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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