Document Type
Thesis
Date of Degree Completion
Spring 2009
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Department
Geological Sciences
Committee Chair
Dr. Andrew Piacsek
Second Committee Member
Dr. Brad Woods
Third Committee Member
Dr. Audrey D. Huerta, Director Science Honors Research Program
Abstract
Tsunamis are surface waves with wavelengths on the order of tens to hundreds of kilometers. Modeling the propagation of a tsunami as it approaches shore requires detailed knowledge of bathymmetry in order to correctly capture the evolution of the wave as it slows down. Most published studies of terminal tsunami behavior (such as wave height and runup) are done for specific sites, often comparing model "postdictions" to recorded events. The goal of the present study is to understand in a general way how coastline indentations (such as bays and inlets) affect tsunami runup and wave height. The COMCOT tsunami propagation code developed at Cornell University is used to simulate a standard tsunami-like wave as it approaches a set of model coastlines whose shape is determined by two curvature parameters; the shapes range from wide bays to narrow inlets. In all cases, a linear bathymmetry gradient is assumed. For each trial, the maximum runup and wave height are recorded. The final result is an empirical scaling law relating these quantities to shoreline curvature.
Recommended Citation
Ewell, Kevin, "A Computational Study of Tsunami Runup as a Function of Coastline Morphology" (2009). Undergraduate Honors Theses. 82.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/undergrad_hontheses/82
Comments
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