Abstract
A suite of tsunami spaced evenly along the subduction zone to the south of Indonesia (the Sunda Arc) were numerically modelled in order to make a preliminary estimate of the level of threat faced by Western Australia from tsunami generated along the Arc. Offshore wave heights from these tsunami were predicted to be significantly higher along the northern part of the west Australian coast than for the rest of the coast south of the town of Exmouth. In particular, the area around Exmouth may face a higher tsunami hazard than other areas of the West Australian coast nearby. Large earthquakes offshore of Java and Sumbawa are likely to be a greater hazard to WA than those offshore of Sumatra. Our numerical models indicate that a magnitude 9 or above earthquake along the eastern part of the Sunda Arc has the potential to significantly impact a large part of the West Australian coastline.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) of Western Australia for its financial support of this project. We would also like to thank Vasily Titov for providing the source code for the tsunami numerical model. The authors would also like to acknowledge the contribution of the two anonymous reviewers, Mark Leonard, Clive Collins and the editor for improving this manuscript.
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Burbidge, D., Cummins, P. Assessing the threat to Western Australia from tsunami generated by earthquakes along the Sunda Arc. Nat Hazards 43, 319–331 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-007-9116-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-007-9116-3