Landslide triggered tsunami, displacement wave

Abstract

Displacement waves caused by the impact of a landslide into a water body and landslide-triggered tsunamis caused by submarine landslides pose a major hazard along the surrounding coast lines and lake shores. Displacement waves related to volcanic collapses have, in general, a long recurrence interval of several thousand up to millions of years. Submarine slides and subaerial landslides into water bodies are more frequent, and in some regions several can take place in a century. With the exception of narrow mountain valleys below artificial and natural mountain lakes where displacement waves can affect tens of kilometer long mountain valleys, these waves affect only coastal areas and offshore installations Depending on the magnitude of the event and the geological settings, results may be catastrophic with loss of lives and total destruction of infrastructure. Similar to earthquake-triggered tsunami waves, hazardous displacement waves are difficult to mitigate. However, our increasing knowledge of landslide processes coupled with the validation of our tsunami modeling codes from historical events and improved risk assessment strategies gives the opportunity to elaborate hazard mapping that can be used in risk mitigation strategies.