Tsunami Propagation and Inundation Due to Tsunamigenic Earthquakes in the Sumatra-Andaman Subduction Zone: Impact at Visakhapatnam

Abstract

The Sumatra-Andaman arc is an active subduction zone that has generated several destructive tsunamis. The December 26, 2004, Sumatra-Andaman earthquake of magnitude Mw∼9.3 generated the most destructive tsunami known to man. The sustained high water level in several regions on the east coast of India due to tsunamis in the Bay of Bengal can be attributed to the reflection of direct tsunami waves and trapping of wave energy. In this paper we have simulated two scenarios of tsunamigenic earthquakes, the 2004 Sumatra earthquake and a possible great earthquake in the Andaman region. Tsunami wave propagation and inundation at Visakhapatnam due to these two earthquakes have been modeled. We find that the tsunami run-up heights for the 2004 Sumatra earthquake were about 1.5 m. For the other possible scenario, we observed that the run-up is about 3–4.6 m. The inundated distances have been estimated and are 1–2 km.

Keywords:

• Tsunamigenic earthquakes
• Sumatra-Andaman
• inundation
• tsunami modeling