Tsunami amplitudes from local earthquakes in the pacific Northwest region of north America Part 2: Strait of Georgia, Juan de Fuca Strait, and Puget Sound

Abstract

Maximum tsunami amplitudes that will result from major earthquakes on the outer coast of the Pacific Northwest region of North America were considered in Part 1 (Marine Geodesy 13(2):101–146). Here the tsunami threat for the inner coast is considered by developing a numerical model for the system consisting of the Strait of Georgia, Juan de Fuca Strait, and Puget Sound (GFP model). Three different source areas were considered for the outer coast models, and the resulting tsunami was propagated to the entrance of Juan de Fuca Strait. Using the output from the outer models, the GFP model was run. The results showed that whereas large tsunami amplitudes can occur on the outer coast, inside the GFP system, unless the earthquake occurs in the system itself, no major tsunami will result.