Tsunami run-up along the Zihuatanejo region, Mexican Pacific Coast: A modelling study

Abstract

A numerical hydrodynamic model was applied to Zihuatanejo Bay on the Mexican Coast of the Pacific Ocean to study the heights and arrival times of tsunamis produced by hypothetical 7.0 and 8.0 Mw magnitude earthquakes with epicenter in the Cocos Plate, at 16.9718°N–101.973°W, as well as the flooding of Zihuatanejo Town by the tsunamis. The travel times of the tsunamis to Zihuatanejo Coast are between 18 and 19 min, maximum sea surface elevations of 1 and 10 m at the coast are estimated following a 7.0 and 8.0 Mw earthquake respectively with a tsunami inland penetration up to 400 m in the second case affecting restaurants, hotels, banks, schools, businesses, museums, and even the municipal market of the town. Therefore, a densely populated area would be affected by a tsunami triggered by an 8.0 Mw earthquake.