Effect of the Tidal Currents at the Amphidromes on the Characteristics of an N-Wave-Type Tsunami

Abstract

The disturbance due to a tsunami is always coupled with permanent harmonic ocean tides. The tsunami based on its time of occurrence will combine with a particular tidal phase. Thus, a coast will experience a modified water level due to a high- or low-tide situation. On the other hand, the tidal current at the amphidromes may act as an attenuator or amplifier of the tsunami prior to its arrival at the shore. A one-dimensional numerical study has been carried out to demonstrate the effect of the amphidromic current on tsunami characteristics. A realistic N-wave profile of the initial perturbation has been considered for the initiation of a tsunami. The interaction of the amphidromic current with the phase velocity of an N-wave-type tsunami and the subsequent run-up along the shore has been investigated in this paper.