scholarly journals Performance of coastal sea-defense infrastructure at El Jadida (Morocco) against tsunami threat: lessons learned from the Japanese 11 March 2011 tsunami

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1779-1794 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Omira ◽  
M. A. Baptista ◽  
F. Leone ◽  
L. Matias ◽  
S. Mellas ◽  
...  

Abstract. This paper seeks to investigate the effectiveness of sea-defense structures in preventing/reducing the tsunami overtopping as well as evaluating the resulting tsunami impact at El Jadida, Morocco. Different tsunami wave conditions are generated by considering various earthquake scenarios of magnitudes ranging from Mw = 8.0 to Mw = 8.6. These scenarios represent the main active earthquake faults in the SW Iberia margin and are consistent with two past events that generated tsunamis along the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The behaviour of incident tsunami waves when interacting with coastal infrastructures is analysed on the basis of numerical simulations of near-shore tsunami waves' propagation. Tsunami impact at the affected site is assessed through computing inundation and current velocity using a high-resolution digital terrain model that incorporates bathymetric, topographic and coastal structures data. Results, in terms of near-shore tsunami propagation snapshots, waves' interaction with coastal barriers, and spatial distributions of flow depths and speeds, are presented and discussed in light of what was observed during the 2011 Tohoku-oki tsunami. Predicted results show different levels of impact that different tsunami wave conditions could generate in the region. Existing coastal barriers around the El Jadida harbour succeeded in reflecting relatively small waves generated by some scenarios, but failed in preventing the overtopping caused by waves from others. Considering the scenario highly impacting the El Jadida coast, significant inundations are computed at the sandy beach and unprotected areas. The modelled dramatic tsunami impact in the region shows the need for additional tsunami standards not only for sea-defense structures but also for the coastal dwellings and houses to provide potential in-place evacuation.

Author(s):  
Héctor Colón-De La Cruz ◽  
Peter Rivera-Casillas ◽  
Adam Keen ◽  
Patrick J. Lynett

Advances in computer programming have permitted researchers to predict and visualize how tsunami waves affect coastline areas. Although it’s possible to use numerical model simulations to predict the inundation of tsunamis, the process has some limitations. In order to solve the Boussinesq-type equations for tsunami propagation in the near-shore, it typically requires hundreds of hours of computation time and/or multiple CPUs. (Tavakkol and Lynett, 2017). Recently the University of Southern California developed a numerical model called Celeris, which can solve the Boussinesq-type equations faster than real time. The numerical model can run with minimum preparations on an average-user laptop and is able to provide results of wave inundation in a matter of seconds (Tavakkol and Lynett, 2017). The purpose of this research is to validate the results of wave inundation provided by Celeris and to study how reefs affect the inundation in the shoreline. If Celeris is validated, it could be used to study how to reduce the impact of tsunamis in the coast, explore the possibilities of using reefs to dissipate the energy of waves, improve evacuation routes, etc.


Author(s):  
A. Yu. Belokon ◽  

This paper is devoted to computational modelling of tsunami wave propagation and runup to the shore for some points on the Russian, Turkish, Bulgarian and Ukrainian coasts of the Black Sea. The nonlinear long wave model was used to solve the problem of wave propagation from hydrodynamic tsunami sources, which can constitute the greatest potential danger for the studied coast areas. The hydrodynamic sources were set in the form of an elliptical elevation, the parameters of which were chosen according to the sea level response to an underwater earthquake of magnitude 7. All the sources were located in seismically active areas, where tsunamigenic earthquakes had already occurred, along the 1500 m isobath. Near each of the studied points in the area above 300 m depths, we calculated marigrams, i.e. time-series of sea level fluctuations caused by the passage of waves. Then, a one-dimensional problem of tsunami propagation and run-up on the coast was solved for each of the points under study, where the obtained marigrams were used as boundary conditions. Peculiarities of tsunami wave propagation have been shown depending on the bottom and land relief in the studied areas of the Black Sea. Estimates have been obtained of the sea level maximum rise and fall during surge and subsequent coastal drainage for the characteristic scales of relief irregularity at different points. For possible tsunamigenic earthquakes, the largest splashes may occur in the region of Yalta (2.15 m), Cide (1.9 m), Sevastopol (1.4 m), and Anapa (1.4 m). Tsunami propagation in the Feodosiya and Varna coastal areas is qualitatively similar, with maximum wave heights of 0.64 m and 0.46 m, respectively. The coastlines of Evpatoriya (0.33 m) and Odessa (0.26 m) are least affected by tsunami waves due to the extended shelf.


1976 ◽  
Vol 1 (15) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
George Pararas-Carayannis

Damage of coastal structures by tsunamis results by the direct and indirect action of hydrostatic and dynamic pressures, foundation failures, overtopping and flooding. Reliable assessment of the potential tsunami hazard at a coastal site and adequate engineering design of critical structures require analysis and understanding of all aspects of a tsunami system leading to its terminal behavior. Description of the space-time history of tsunami waves generated by impulsive disturbances require consideration of events and processes in the following regimes: (a) generation; (b) propagation and dispersion; and (c) termination. Processes and events in each regime during the development of a tsunami are under their own unique hydrodynamic constraints but are dependent on what has preceeded. In predicting tsunami wave characteristics at some distance from the generating source, the error structure may be pyramidal. Essential to any method of tsunami prediction at a distant or a nearby coast will be the full consideration and study of tsunami generative mechanisms. If the tsunami generation mechanics cannot be deduced with a reasonable degree of accuracy, it is not likely that the tsunami terminal aspects will be reliably predicted. Prediction of tsunami height at a distant or at a nearby coast requires knowledge of the magnitude and type of ground displacements in the tsunami generating area and of the characteristics of the surface waves resulting from such action. Although all mechanisms involved during tsunami generation are not fully understood, it is possible to obtain a suitable tsunami initiating function through the use of experimental data, historical data, and established empirical relationships, for each type of generating mechanism. Reliable computation of the tsunami propagation effects over and across the ocean can be obtained with proper modeling to provide an adequate description of the tsunami energy flow through the use of physical and numerical studies. Similarly, the terminal aspects and nearshore modification of the tsunami wave system can be approximated to provide the engineering criteria necessary for the assessment of the potential tsunami hazard at a coastal site.


Author(s):  
Li YIPING ◽  
Desmond Ofosu ANIM ◽  
Ying WANG ◽  
Chunyang TANG ◽  
Wei DU ◽  
...  

This paper presents a well-controlled laboratory experimental study to evaluate wave attenuation by artificial emergent plants (Phragmites australis) under different wave conditions and plant stem densities. Results showed substantial wave damping under investigated regular and irregular wave conditions and also the different rates of wave height and within canopy wave-induced flows as they travelled through the vegetated field under all tested conditions. The wave height decreased by 6%–25% at the insertion of the vegetation field and towards the downstream at a mean of 0.2 cm and 0.32 cm for regular and irregular waves respectively. The significant wave height along the vegetation field ranged from 0.89–1.76 cm and 0.8–1.28 cm with time mean height of 1.38 cm and 1.11 cm respectively for regular and irregular waves. This patterns as affected by plant density and also location from the leading edge of vegetation is investigated in the study. The wave energy attenuated by plant induced friction was predicted in terms of energy dissipation factor (fe) by Nielsen’s (1992) empirical model. Shear stress as a driving force of particle resuspension and the implication of the wave attenuation on near shore protection from erosion and sedimentation was discussed. The results and findings in this study will advance our understanding of wave attenuation by an emergent vegetation of Phragmites australis, in water system engineering like near shore and bank protection and restoration projects and also be employed for management purposes to reduce resuspension and erosion in shallow lakes.


Author(s):  
Jui-Chun Freya Chen ◽  
Wu-Cheng Chi ◽  
Chu-Fang Yang

Abstract Developing new ways to observe tsunami contributes to tsunami research. Tidal and deep-ocean gauges are typically used for coastal and offshore observations. Recently, tsunami-induced ground tilts offer a new possibility. The ground tilt signal accompanied by 2010 Mw 8.8 Chilean earthquake were observed at a tiltmeter network in Japan. However, tiltmeter stations are usually not as widely installed as broadband seismometers in other countries. Here, we studied broadband seismic records from Japan’s F-net and found ground tilt signals consistent with previously published tiltmeter dataset for this particular tsunamic event. Similar waveforms can also be found in broadband seismic networks in other countries, such as Taiwan, as well as an ocean-bottom seismometer. We documented a consistent time sequence of evolving back-azimuth directions of the tsunami waves at different stages of tsunami propagation through beamforming-frequency–wavenumber analysis and particle-motion analysis; the outcomes are consistent with the tsunami propagation model provided by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. These results shown that dense broadband seismic networks can provide a useful complementary dataset, in addition to tiltmeter arrays and other networks, to study or even monitor tsunami propagation using arrayed methods.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 1233
Author(s):  
V Yuvaraj ◽  
S Rajasekaran ◽  
D Nagarajan

Cellular automata is the model applied in very complicated situations and complex problems. It involves the Introduction of voronoi diagram in tsunami wave propagation with the help of a fast-marching method to find the spread of the tsunami waves in the coastal regions. In this study we have modelled and predicted the tsunami wave propagation using the finite difference method. This analytical method gives the horizontal and vertical layers of the wave run up and enables the calculation of reaching time.  


Author(s):  
Janaka J. Wijetunge

Purpose This paper aims to describe a multi-scenario assessment of the seismogenic tsunami hazard for Bangladesh from active subduction zones in the Indian Ocean region. Two segments of the Sunda arc, namely, Andaman and Arakan, appear to pose a tsunamigenic seismic threat to Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach High-resolution numerical simulations of tsunami propagation toward the coast of Bangladesh have been carried out for eight plausible seismic scenarios in Andaman and Arakan subduction zones. The numerical results have been analyzed to obtain the spatial variation of the maximum tsunami amplitudes as well as tsunami arrival times for the entire coastline of Bangladesh. Findings The results suggest that the tsunami heights are amplified on either side of the axis of the submarine canyon which approaches the nearshore sea off Barisal in the seaboard off Sundarban–Barisal–Sandwip. Moreover, the computed tsunami amplitudes are comparatively higher north of the latitude 21.5o in the Teknaf–Chittagong coastline. The calculated arrival times indicate that the tsunami waves reach the western half of the Sundarban–Barisal–Sandwip coastline sooner, while shallow water off the eastern half results in a longer arrival time for that part of the coastline, in the event of an earthquake in the Andaman seismic zone. On the other hand, most parts of the Chittagong–Teknaf coastline would receive tsunami waves almost immediately after an earthquake in the northern segment of the Arakan seismic zone. Originality/value The present assessment includes probabilistic measures of the tsunami hazard by incorporating several probable seismic scenarios corresponding to recurrence intervals ranging from 25 years to over 1,000 years.


Author(s):  
Ali Abdolali ◽  
James T. Kirby

Most existing tsunami propagation models consider the ocean to be an incompressible, homogenous medium. Recently, it has been shown that a number of physical features can slow the propagation speed of tsunami waves, including wave frequency dispersion, ocean bottom elasticity, water compressibility and thermal or salinity stratification. These physical effects are secondary to the leading order, shallow water or long wave behavior, but still play a quantifiable role in tsunami arrival time, especially at far distant locations. In this work, we have performed analytical and numerical investigations and have shown that consideration of those effects can actually improve the prediction of arrival time at distant stations, compared to incompressible forms of wave equations. We derive a modified Mild Slope Equation for Weakly Compressible fluid following the method proposed by Sammarco et al. (2013) and Abdolali et al. (2015) using linearized wave theory, and then describe comparable extensions to the Boussinesq model of Kirby et al. (2013). Both models account for water compressibility and compression of static water column to simulate tsunami waves. The mild slope model is formulated in plane Cartesian coordinates and is thus limited to medium propagation distances, while the Boussinesq model is formulated in spherical polar coordinates and is suitable for ocean scale simulations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 477 (1) ◽  
pp. 303-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oleg I. Gusev ◽  
Gayaz S. Khakimzyanov ◽  
Leonid B. Chubarov

AbstractWe investigate the ability of a submarine landslide to generate the tsunami waves observed on the Bulgarian coast of Black Sea on 7 May 2007. In our simulations, a landslide is presented as a quasi-deformable body moving along a curvilinear slope under action of the forces of gravity, buoyancy, water resistance and bottom friction. We employ the fully non-linear weakly dispersive model for tsunami wave simulations. The computations show that the initial landslide position on the real slope is extremely important for its dynamics and the wave generation process. We constructed some model landslides which generated similar waves to those observed. Moreover, these landslides stopped in the same region. Finally, we evaluated the significance of the frequency dispersion effects in the simulations.


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