The reflection of obliquely incident tsunamis

Abstract

When a tsunami is incident on a plane shelf, the waveform and amplitude of the reflected wave differ significantly from those of the incident wave, and, when the shelf has the extremely irregular character of real continental shelves, the contrast between the two amplitudes is even greater. Here we quantify these statements and we also give an account of the manner in which the run-up depends on the obliquity and on other parameters characterizing the incident wave.