Galen Gisler (PGP): Uncertainties in the modelling of tsunami generation by landslides

Tsunamis are generated by landslides through the coupling of dissimilar materials: water that is weakly elastic but highly mobile, and rock that is cohesive but frangible. For accurate computation, pressure waves must be resolved, and the strength properties of the slide material must be appropriately represented. I will present a parameter study of simulations in which material strength and resolution are varied to illustrate the sensitivity of the resulting tsunami to these simulation parameters. Results indicate that high resolution is essential, and that adequate characterisation of the material properties of the slide material is important for subaerial landslides.