A database of validation cases for tsunami numerical modelling

GeoHazards

Tsunami inundation estimates are of crucial importance to hazard and risk assessments. In the context of tsunami forecast, numerical simulations are becoming more feasible with the growth of computational power. Uncertainties regarding source determination within the first minutes after a tsunami generation might be a major concern in the issuing of an appropriate warning on the coast. However, it is also crucial to investigate differences emerging from the chosen algorithms for the tsunami simulations due to a dependency of the outcomes on the suitable model settings. In this study, we compare the tsunami inundation in three cities in central Chile (Coquimbo, Viña del Mar, and Valparaíso) using three different models (TsunAWI, Tsunami-HySEA, COMCOT) while varying the parameters such as bottom friction. TsunAWI operates on triangular meshes with variable resolution, whereas the other two codes use nested grids for the coastal area. As initial conditions of the experiments, three sei...

2008

We discuss the progress towards the development of benchmarked models for forecasting tsunami inundation. Tsunami hydrodynamics has progressed slower than research in other natural hazards, because for several decades only the largest tsunamis were being reported. With the exception of the 1960 and 1964 events, there had been only qualitative information on inundation. While the basic equations for analysis have been known for decades, the existing synthesis leading to real time forecasts as currently available had to await the development of sophisticated modeling tools, the large-scale laboratory experiments in the 1980s-1990s and the tsunameter recordings of 2003 and since. The field survey results in the 1990s (Synolakis and Okal, 2005) served as crude proxies to free-field tsunami recordings and allowed for the validation and verification of numerical procedures. State-of-the-art inundation and forecasting codes have evolved through a painstaking process of careful validation a...

European Journal of Mechanics - B/Fluids, 2019

HAL is a multidisciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.

Russian Journal of Earth Sciences, 2007

The main principles of using computational tools in the solution of applied tsunami problems related to support the decisions of antirecessionary manages are formulated. A comparative assessment is given of the efficiency of known computational models and programming systems developed on their basis for hydrodynamic tsunami modeling.

The large recent catastrophic events of Indian Ocean with over 300,000 fatalities in 9 different countries and the 2011 Tohoku tsunami in Japan with about 20,000 fatalities and over $100B damage to the Japanese economy, have shown the limitations of some of the modeling approaches used in the past and have stimulated the development of both new models and novel modeling methodologies. In this thesis, some improvements in tsunami modeling is contributed, in part to better simulate tsunami generation by the co-seismic seafloor displacement caused by megathrust earthquakes like the one in Manuscript 1 (Pure and Applied Geophysics, 170, 1333-1359, 2013), and also model tsunamis generated by Submarine Mass Failures (SMFs) on or near the continental shelf break Manuscript 2 (published online on Natural Hazards, 42pps. Nov. 15 th ,2014). Besides, when assessing coastal tsunami hazard along simple coastlines, one usually sets the static reference level in tsunami models to the largest astronomic tide, typically with 10% exceedence; one also accounts for a potential sea level rise. However, in complex estuaries such as Chesapeake Bay or New York/Hudson River harbor, the dynamic effects of tidal currents on the incoming tsunami waves could, in some situations, enhance tsunami impact. In the Manuscript 3 (to be submitted) of this thesis, a new approach is implemented to simulate dynamic tide-tsunami interactions and is applied to the full case study of tsunami hazard assessment for the Chesapeake Bay mouth and the James River, which are very vulnerable, low lying, coastal environments equipped with major ports (e.g., Norfolk, Virginia Port authority) and resort areas (e.g., Virginia Beach). In the Manuscript 4 (To be submitted), by applying the new modeling tools v PREFACE This dissertation is written based on the University of Rhode Island "Guidelines for the Format of Theses and Dissertations" standards for Manuscript format. This dissertation is composed of four manuscripts that have been combined to satisfy the requirements of the

Revue Paralia, 2015

Into the frame of the TANDEM project (Tsunamis in the Atlantic and the English ChaNnel: Definition of the Effects through numerical Modeling) a first step of the study aims for Principia to qualify different 3D CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) models for the simulation of tsunamis. The EOLE code solves a 3D bi-fluid flow on multi-structures meshes coupled with a free surface tracking VOF model, whereas the EOLENS code is based on an interface capturing method using unstructured meshes. This paper presents some simulations / measurements comparisons for academic test cases of wave propagation and run-up. On the whole, the results are satisfactory showing the high potential of both codes to simulate tsunamis impact.

2010

A novel tool for tsunami wave modelling is presented. This tool has the potential of being used for operational purposes: indeed, the numerical code \VOLNA is able to handle the complete life-cycle of a tsunami (generation, propagation and run-up along the coast). The algorithm works on unstructured triangular meshes and thus can be run in arbitrary complex domains. This paper contains the detailed description of the finite volume scheme implemented in the code. The numerical treatment of the wet/dry transition is explained. This point is crucial for accurate run-up/run-down computations. Most existing tsunami codes use semi-empirical techniques at this stage, which are not always sufficient for tsunami hazard mitigation. Indeed the decision to evacuate inhabitants is based on inundation maps which are produced with this type of numerical tools. We present several realistic test cases that partially validate our algorithm. Comparisons with analytical solutions and experimental data are performed. Finally the main conclusions are outlined and the perspectives for future research presented.

2020

Tsunami modeling and simulation has changed in the past few years more than it had in decades, especially so with respect to coastal inundation. Among other things, this change is supported by the approaching era of exa-scale computing, whether via GPU or more likely forms of hybrid computing whose presence is growing across the geosciences. For reasons identified across this review, exa-scale computing efforts will impact the on-shore, highly turbulent r\'egime to higher degree than the 2D shallow water equations used to model tsunami propagation in the open ocean. This short review describes the different approaches to tsunami modeling from generation to impact and underlines the limits of each model based on the flow r\'egime. Moreover, from the perspective of a future comprehensive multi-scale modeling infrastructure to simulate a full tsunami, we underline the current challenges associated with this approach and review the few efforts that are currently underway to achi...

European Journal of Mechanics - B/Fluids, 2011

A novel tool for tsunami wave modelling is presented. This tool has the potential of being used for operational purposes: indeed, the numerical code VOLNA is able to handle the complete life-cycle of a tsunami (generation, propagation and run-up along the coast). The algorithm works on unstructured triangular meshes and thus can be run in arbitrary complex domains. This paper contains the detailed description of the finite volume scheme implemented in the code. The numerical treatment of the wet/dry transition is explained. This point is crucial for accurate run-up/run-down computations. Most existing tsunami codes use semi-empirical techniques at this stage, which are not always sufficient for tsunami hazard mitigation. Indeed the decision to evacuate inhabitants is based on inundation maps which are produced with this type of numerical tools. We present several realistic test cases that partially validate our algorithm. Comparisons with analytical solutions and experimental data are performed. Finally the main conclusions are outlined and the perspectives for future research presented.

Extended Abstracts Volume (332 pages) + full paper CD-ROM (1772 pages), 2008

Tsunamis are an ever present risk to coastlines around the world, but many aspects of tsunami behaviour are unclear or little understood, so require significant further investigation. This paper presents the development of a new physical modelling facility to model and study scaled tsunami waves, and their effects, in a 2-D flume. The concept design of the new facility is explained and the preparatory analysis that was performed to confirm the feasibility of the design. An explanation is given of the main causes of building damage when a tsunami strikes and several available methods for limiting that damage. Finally, the testing that is to be performed later in 2008, using the tsunami generator, is described and the future plans for the facility are set out.