FY 2001

Re-evaluating source mechanisms for the 1998 Papua New Guinea tsunami using revised slump estimates and sedimentation modeling

Titov, V.V., B. Jaffe, F.I. González, and G. Gelfenbaum

In Proceedings of the International Tsunami Symposium 2001 (ITS 2001), Session 2-4, Seattle, WA, 7–10 August 2001, 389–395, (on CD-ROM) (2001)

The nature of the source mechanism for the 17 July 1998 Papua New Guinea tsunami continues to be controversial. A previous investigation (Titov and Gonzalez, 1998) used a numerical model to examine differences between landslide and tectonic model sources for the tsunami; this study failed to find conclusive evidence that would favor one of the generation mechanisms. We have revisited the problem, using new scientific information as input to the model: slump generation now conforms to a model reconstructed from seismic profiles and new bathymetric and topographic data are used in the grids. Distinct features of the inundation caused by tectonic and/or slump generation mechanisms will be discussed, and model run-up flow estimates will be compared with estimates derived by a tsunami sedimentation model used to interpret field data.