Tsunami impact on Newfoundland, Canada, due to far-field generated tsunamis. Implications on hazard assessment

Abstract

In Canada, tsunamis associated with submarine earthquakes have been considered in terms of hazard assessment for many years; mainly due to the Pacific tsunami threat and to gravitational instabilities on continental slopes. This latter instance refers to the case of a submarine landslide and consequent tsunami generated by the Mw=7.2 earthquake of 18th November 1929 on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. In this study, we investigate the impact on Newfoundland of far field generated tsunamis in the Atlantic Ocean and consideration of such tsunami hazards for the Canadian Atlantic Coast. In the framework of the study of the 1755 Lisbon tele-tsunami, we show that a 1755 tsunami like event, with the source located offshore the Iberian Peninsula, can impact Newfoundland. The coastal amplification is also studied in detail using high resolution bathymetric grids. Finally the results of tsunami propagation modeling are compared to historical data of the 1st November 1755 concerning at least two places in Newfoundland.