Tsunami Earthquakes

Abstract

The original definition of "tsunami earthquake" was given by Kanamori [37] as "an earthquake that produces a large size tsunami relative to the value of its surface wave magnitude (M_S)". Therefore, the true damage potential that a tsunami earthquake represents may not be recognized by conventional near real-time seismic analysis methods and may only become apparent upon the arrival of the tsunami waves on the local coastline. Although tsunami earthquakes occur relatively infrequently, the effect on the local population can be devastating, as was most recently illustrated by the July 2006 Java tsunami earthquake. This event (moment magnitude M_w=7.8) was quickly followed by tsunami waves two to seven meters high, traveling as far as two kilometers inland and killing at least 668 people.

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