Coastal Effects of Tsunamis (Seismic Sea Waves) Along the Gulf of Alaska

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This research program considers the generation of a tsunami (a long wavelength ocean wave) by an earthquake along the Aleutian chain, the propagation of the tsunami across the Gulf of Alaska, and the runup on to the coastline. The solution is effected through a comprehensive computer model. The project involves a collaboration between the University of Alaska's Institute of Marine Science, the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans' Institute of Ocean Sciences, and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's Tsunami Warning Center at Palmer, Alaska. Emphasis is given to the final stages of tsunami propagation, namely the runup on the shoreline, and the backwash. Special consideration is given to the hydrodynamical, mathematical, and numerical difficulties connected with the discontinuity between the wet and dry domains, nonlinearity, friction of the propagating wave with the ocean bottom, and computational instability. The aim is to develop a robust two- dimensional runup model which can be used to predict reliably the extent of runup along Alaskan and Canadian shores. This basic information is particularly valuable for tsunami warning and prediction, and is critical for the populated areas around Valdez, Seward, and Homer.