Tsunami Run-Up Model And Inundation Maps For Malaysia
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Date
2017-08
Authors
Tan, Wai Kiat
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
This study mainly aims to assess the vulnerability of Malaysian coasts to
tsunamis originating from nearby subduction zones, namely the Sunda Trench and
the Manila Trench, and from the Brunei Slide. For this purpose, a two-dimensional
tsunami run-up model, codenamed TUNA-RP, is developed and validated against
a standard set of benchmark problems. Model simulations are performed to produce
the inundation maps for the affected Malaysian coasts for tsunamis originating from
the Sunda Trench, the Manila Trench and the Brunei Slide. Inundation maps often
serve as the basis for authorities and local communities to plan evacuation route
and manage coastal development. Intended to test the robustness of TUNA-RP, the
inundation maps produced for Langkawi, Kedah and Penang match well with the
measured field data compiled from the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Significant
findings are reported as follows. First, the simulation results show that the tsunami
wave generated by the Manila Trench does not pose serious threats to Kudat, Kota
Kinabalu and Labuan. But the towns of Miri and Bintulu in Sarawak appear to be
exposed to higher risk from tsunami originating from the Manila Trench. This
highlights the need for community resilience and preparedness program at these
locations. Second, large Submarine Mass Failure (SMF) can indeed generate
tsunamis with more disastrous impact than tsunamis generated by vertical uplift of
sea-bottom from tectonic activity, known as earthquake-generated tsunami. This is
because SMF often occurs on coastal margins near shorelines, cannot be predicted
with accuracy, and may strike within minutes following mass failure. Third,
simulation results indicate that under the worst case scenario, the tsunami generated
by SMF off Brunei, could strike the coast of Sabah with large wave heights reaching
coastal cities in less than an hour.
Description
Keywords
Tsunami run-up model and inundation , maps for Malaysia