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Three Dimensional Landslide Generated Tsunamis: Numerical and Physical Model Comparisons

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Abstract

Tsunamis are one of the most catastrophic natural hazards that can devastate coastal regions. Most common mechanisms that generate tsunamis are undersea earthquakes and submarine landslides. However, in enclosed basins, such as fjords, reservoirs, and lakes, subaerial landslides can also generate devastating tsunamis with similar or worse consequences, because of a more efficient wave generation.

Here, we present the validation of a three-dimensional (3D) numerical model, TSUNAMI3D, by comparing numerical results with a set of subaerial landslide laboratory experiments carried out in the large tsunami wave basin at the Oregon State University (OSU). Results obtained from the laboratory experiments show that subaerial landslides generate highly non-linear waves with complex wave patterns and runup, challenging existing numerical models.

The 3D numerical model is first verified with a commercial code, FLOW3D, to obtain a compromise between the model’s spatial-time resolution accuracy and computational cost. Second, the 3D numerical model and the commercial code are validated with a set of OSU laboratory experiments comprising three different layouts or basin configurations, namely, fjord, curved headland, and basin-wide. Simplified material rheology and key parameters required for modeling subaerial landslides are defined. Numerical models’ relative errors are estimated and analyzed, and the models’ limitations are discussed. In general, numerical models’ relative errors are found to be acceptable in most of the validation tests except those tests located close to the wave generation region.

Validation results confirm that the 3D numerical models with simplified landslide rheology can be used to understand and reproduce the complex non-linear wave propagation and runup generated by subaerial landslides. Thus, TSUNAMI3D can help assess tsunami hazards in communities located in proximity to potential subaerial landslides. Also, the set of physical experiments can be used for further numerical validation efforts, helping tsunami organizations, e.g., the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program, to amend existing or develop better numerical models and thus, improve inundation/evacuation mapping products that would save lives and property.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation awards: CMMI-0421090, CMMI-0936603, CMMI-0402490, CMMI-0927178, and CMMI-1563217. Support from the staff of the O.H. Hinsdale wave research laboratory, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, the Network for Earthquake Engineering and Simulation (NEES), and the NSF REU students is acknowledged. Supporting data for this paper can be found on the NEEShub website at www.nees.org, which migrated to the DesignSafe-CI web-based platform for the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) at www.designsafe-ci.org. The comments and insights provided by anonymous reviewers are greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ocean Engineering, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77554, USA

    Gyeong-Bo Kim, Wei Cheng, Richards C. Sunny & Juan J. Horrillo

  2. US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS, USA

    Brian C. McFall

  3. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

    Fahad Mohammed

  4. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Hermann M. Fritz

  5. Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA

    James Beget

  6. Institute of Marine Science, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA

    Zygmunt Kowalik

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  1. Gyeong-Bo Kim
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  2. Wei Cheng
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  3. Richards C. Sunny
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  4. Juan J. Horrillo
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  5. Brian C. McFall
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  6. Fahad Mohammed
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  7. Hermann M. Fritz
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  9. Zygmunt Kowalik
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Correspondence to Juan J. Horrillo.

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Kim, GB., Cheng, W., Sunny, R.C. et al. Three Dimensional Landslide Generated Tsunamis: Numerical and Physical Model Comparisons. Landslides 17, 1145–1161 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-019-01308-2

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