Owen Ridge deep-water submarine landslides: implications for tsunami hazard along the Oman coast

Type Article
Date 2013
Language English
Author(s) Rodriguez M.1, 2, 3, Chamot-Rooke Nicolas3, Hebert H.4, Fournier M.1, 2, Huchon P.1, 2
Affiliation(s) 1 : Univ Paris 06, UMR7193, Inst Sci Terre Paris, F-75252 Paris 05, France.
2 : CNRS, UMR7193, ISTeP, F-75005 Paris, France.
3 : Ecole Normale Super, Geol Lab, F-75231 Paris 05, France.
4 : DIF, DAM, CEA, F-91297 Arpajon, France.
Source Natural Hazards And Earth System Sciences (1561-8633) (Copernicus Gesellschaft Mbh), 2013 , Vol. 13 , N. 2 , P. 417-424
DOI 10.5194/nhess-13-417-2013
WOS© Times Cited 27
Abstract The recent discovery of voluminous submarine landslides along the Owen Ridge may represent a source of tsunami hazard for the nearby Oman coast. We assess the severity of this potential hazard by performing numerical simulations of tsunami generation and propagation from the biggest landslide (40 km3 in volume) observed along the Owen Ridge. A finite-difference model, assimilating the landslide to a visco-plastic flow, simulates tsunami generation. Computation results show that Salalah city (190 000 inhabitants) is impacted by 2.5 m-high tsunami waves one hour after sediment failure. Higher wave elevation values (4 m) are reached in the low populated Sawqara Bay over 80 min after slide initiation. Although large submarine failures along remote oceanic ridges are infrequent, this study reveals an underestimated source of tsunami hazard in the Arabian Sea.
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