Inundation Modeling of the 1964 Tsunami in Kodiak Island, Alaska

Abstract

In this work a numerical modeling method is used to study tsunami waves generated by the Great Alaska earthquake of 1964 and their impact on Kodiak Island communities. The numerical model is based on the nonlinear shallow water equations of motion and continuity which are solved by a finite-difference method. We compare two different source models for the 1964 deformation. It is shown that the results of the near-field inundation modeling strongly depend on the slip distribution within the rupture area. These results are used for evaluation of the tsunami hazard for the Kodiak Island communities.