Resonance phenomena at the long wave run-up on the coast

Abstract

Run-up of long waves on a beach consisting of three pieces of constant but different slopes is studied. Linear shallow-water theory is used for incoming impulse evolution, and nonlinear corrections are obtained for the run-up stage. It is demonstrated that bottom profile influences the run-up characteristics and can lead to resonance effects: increase of wave height, particle velocity, and number of oscillations. Simple parameterization of tsunami source through an earthquake magnitude is used to calculate the run-up height versus earthquake magnitude. It is shown that resonance effects lead to the sufficient increase of run-up heights for the weakest earthquakes, and a tsunami wave does not break on chosen bottom relief if the earthquake magnitude does not exceed 7.8. © Author(s) 2013.