Journal of Oceanography

, Volume 28, Issue 6, pp 229–241 | Cite as

Statistical studies on the wave-form and maximum height of large Tsunamis

  • Hideo Watanabe
Original
First Online:
Received:
Revised:

Abstract

The tide-gauge records of large tsunamis are classified into three types, A, B and C. The “A” type record is made up of one or a few large waves near the wave front. The “B” type record consists of one or a few wave groups. The “C” type is the combination of the “A” and “B” types. The data used are; the Kamchatka Tsunami of Nov. 4, 1952, the Aleutian Tsunami of March 9, 1957, the Chilean Tsunami of May 22, 1960 and the Alaska Tsunami of March 28, 1964.

The A type occurs mostly at isolated islands in the Pacific Ocean and occasionally at continental coasts. The B type is mostly distributed on the continental coast and along the island-arc. The distribution of the C type differs from tsunami to tsunami.

The relation between the delay time of the maximum wave and the the travel time of the wave front is as follows:
  1. 1).

    For the wave of the A type and the head wave of C type, the delay time (t D ) is constant for all travel times.

     
  2. 2).

    For the first wave group of B and C types, the delay time (T1) is constant or slow decreases with travel time. For the second and third wave groups of B and C types, the definite decrease of delay times (T2 andT3) with travel time is observed.

     

The height (h) of the maximum wave of A and C types decreases generally with travel time. The maximum wave height along the path between Kamchatka and Chile, however, shows the increase. For all wave groups the wave heights (H1,H2 andH3) of B and C types increases with travel time. Some speculations on the causes of these features are also presented.

Keywords

Wave Height Maximum Wave Wave Group Tide Station Tsunami Source 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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References

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Copyright information

© The Oceanographical Society of Japan 1972

Authors and Affiliations

  • Hideo Watanabe
    • 1
  1. 1.Seismological DivisionJapan Meteorological AgencyTokyoJapan

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