Characteristics of On-Slope Tsunami Propagation and the Accuracy of the Numerical Model

Tsunamis propagating on a continental shelf or continental slope excite complicated wave motions, such as edge waves. Carrier (1994) considered a semi-infinite constant slope and derived an analytical solution of the initial value problem based on the linear shallow-water wave theory. His results indicated that some of the energy radiated from the initial tsunami source is manifested in the form of trapped edge waves propagating along the shoreline with dispersive attenuation. Fujima et al. (1999) also analytically investigated the generation of edge waves by an initial tsunami source on a semi-infinite constant slope. They concluded that edge waves are generated considerably in the case when the tsunami source is located near the shoreline. The above studies were concerned with propagation of on-slope tsunamis generated by near-field tsunami source.