Tsunami Simulations

Abstract

I present a brief review of tsunami simulations, first introducing the subject with an overview of notable tsunamis. Then I discuss modeling strategies and philosophies, describing the use of shallow-water equations and Navier-Stokes and Euler equations for various phases of tsunami development. Recent developments have made possible the real-time forecasting of impending tsunami dangers, which I briefly describe. Finally I focus on modeling in the generation phase, during which rock meets water, often violently and sometimes explosively, and discuss why I believe this phase (at least) must be modeled using fully compressible hydrodynamics. I then describe some illustrative simulations with the Los Alamos/SAIC code SAGE of underwater earthquakes and underwater landslides and demonstrate how these couple to surface waves.