CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Cherniawsky, J.; Stephenson, F.; Wang, K.; Titov, V.; Rabinovich, A.; de Lange Boom, B.; and Li, J.-Y.
Date : 2004.
Title : Tsunami-generated waves and currents in Vancouver Island harbours from Cascadia megathrust earthquakes.
Publication : European Geosciences Union. 1st General Assembly. Nice, France, 25 - 30 April 2004.
Issue : EGU04-A-04461.
Page(s) :
Abstract
Numerical modelling studies of tsunami-generated waves and currents in Vancouver Island harbours were carried out for tsunami source scenarios of a megathrust earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The last such earthquake with magnitude of about 9 occurred in 1700 CE and ruptured the entire 1000-km long plate boundary fault. Trans-Pacific tsunami models have been developed to facilitate interpretation of historical records of tsunami heights in Japan caused by this earthquake. We present here the results from numerical models which predict tsunami waves and currents in Vancouver Island harbours that can be generated by a similar earthquake at the Cascadia margin. The high-resolution (10-m grid) models, based on shallow-water wave equations, are applied to several bays and harbours (Victoria, Esquimalt, Sooke, St Juan, Bamfield, Ucluelet and Alberni). These "harbour models" are linked to the source region with two lower resolution nested models, with the coarsest grid containing the complete Cascadia source region. Tsunami amplitudes and currents in these harbours are presented and discussed in terms of different earthquake scenarios, as well as harbour geometry and location relative to the source and shelf regions. Analyses of recent tsunami records in Victoria and Tofino are used for comparison.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology