Abstract
Two recent tsunamis in Indonesia highlight the importance of submarine landslides. Although both events had different origins (volcanic, seismic), submarine landsliding was probably the key component in tsunamigenesis. While a few recent submarine landslide-generated tsunamis have been discussed in the literature, these types of events have not been seriously scrutinised by geoscientists or hazard modellers. This is most likely because of both a lack of awareness and also the common perception that such events are too remote a possibility to be of major concern. However, by catching us off-guard, these two Indonesian events have brought slope-failure tsunamigenesis into sharper focus. It is hoped that this will stimulate greater scholarship on the issue of slope-failure tsunamigenesis worldwide, with an aim to better understanding event characteristics, probabilities, and ultimately better inform existing risk reduction strategies.
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Terry, J.P., Goff, J., Winspear, N. et al. Short communication: Recognising the perils of landslide-generated tsunamis in the Asia–Pacific region. Nat Hazards 97, 1413–1416 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-019-03708-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-019-03708-y