Tsunami
Modelling tsunami and developing warning systems.
GNS Science works with a number of groups, including NIWA, universities, and private individuals, to improve the knowledge of tsunami hazards in New Zealand.
Research and consultancy expertise
Understanding Tsunami
- Identify tsunami sources, and modelling tsunami generation, propagation and inundation
- Studying offshore faults and earthquakes that may produce local tsunami.
- Identifying tsunamis that have occurred over the past few thousand years around the New Zealand coastline.
- Searching out data on the sources and the damage and wave heights of historical tsunami (the past 200 years). These data are used to calibrate mathematical models of inundation and impact.
- Collaborating with the US agency the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Pacific-wide tsunami, which will eventually allow wave-height predictions in real-time.
Monitoring
- Tsunami monitoring - early warning of potential tsunami through seismic monitoring
- Tide gauges - water pressure sensors to detect the arrival and height of tsunami waves – vital data for assessing the impacts
Modelling
- Learn of the probabilistic risk to New Zealand from tsunamis.
- Modelling of local tsunami generated by earthquakes, volcanoes and undersea landslides off the New Zealand coast.
- Determining likely impacts on people buildings and infrastructure
- Modelling the likely long-term economic losses to New Zealand cities from tsunami.
Community resilience
- Researching the public awareness of geological hazards and the effectiveness of warning systems and public education programmes.
- Advice on warning systems, public response, education and evacuation
- Tsunami evacuation mapping projects
More Information:
- What is a Tsunami?
- Tsunami! What to Do!
- Tsunami in New Zealand
- The 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami
- Download: Boxing Day tsunami animation
- 2013 Tsunami Hazard Report
