Skip to main content

Modeling Potential Tsunami Generation by the BIG’95 Landslide

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Submarine Mass Movements and Their Consequences

Abstract

The BIG’95 landslide was emplaced 11,500 years ago and is one of the largest known submarine landslides in the Mediterranean Sea. The simulated landslide dynamics matches the observed run-out and deposited thickness. Water elevation simulated by using a dispersive tsunami model exceed 10 m close to the landslide area and at the nearest shorelines. Modeling further indicates that the tsunami probably had widespread consequences in the Mediterranean. Compared to previous studies, this new simulation provides larger waves. There is, however, still a need to better constrain the landslide dynamics in order to illuminate the uncertainties related to the tsunamigenic power of this, and other, submarine landslides.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Assier Rzadkiewicz S, Mariotti C, Heinrich P (1997) Numerical simulation of submarine landslides and their hydraulic effect. J Waterw Port Coast Ocean Eng ASCE 123(4):149–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Canals M, Casamor JL, Urgeles R et~al. (2000) The Ebro continental margin, Western Mediterranean Sea: interplay between canyon-channel systems and mass wasting processes. In: Nelson CH, Weimer P (eds) Deep-water reservoirs of the world: SEPM, Gulf Coast Section, 20th annual conference, Houston, TX, USA, pp 152–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Glimsdal S, Pedersen G, Harbitz CB et~al. (2013) Dispersive tsunamis; does it really matter? Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 13:1507–1526. www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/13/1507/2013/. doi:10.5194/nhess-13-1507-2013

  • Harbitz CB, Løvholt F, Pedersen G et al (2006) Mechanisms of tsunami generation by submarine landslides: a short review. Nor J Geol 86:255–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Iglesias O, Lastras G, Canals M et al (2012) The BIG’95 submarine landslide-generated tsunami: a numerical simulation. J Geol 120:31–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Imran J, Harff P, Parker G (2001) A numerical model of submarine debris flow with graphical user interface. Comput Geosci 27:717–729

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kajiura K (1963) The leading wave of a tsunami. Bull Earthq Res Inst 41:535–571

    Google Scholar 

  • Lastras G, Canals M, Hughes Clarke JE, Moreno A, De Batist M, Masson DG, Cochonat P (2002) Seafloor imagery from the BIG’95 debris flow, western Mediterranean. Geology 30:871–874

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lastras G, Canals M, Urgeles R et al (2004) Characterisation of a recent debris flow deposit after a variety of seismic reflection data, Ebro margin, western Mediterranean. Mar Geol 213:235–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lastras G, de Blasio FV, Canals M, Elverhøi A (2005) Conceptual and numerical modeling of the BIG’95 debris flow, Western Mediterranean Sea. J Sediment Res 75:784–797

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Locat J, Lee H (2002) Submarine landslides: advances and challenges. Can Geotech J 39:193–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Løvholt F, Harbitz CB, Haugen KB (2005) A parametric study of tsunamis generated by submarine slides in the Ormen Lange/Storegga area off western Norway. Mar Petrol Geol 22(1–2):219–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Løvholt F, Pedersen G, Gisler G (2008) Oceanic propagation of a potential tsunami from the La Palma Island. J Geophys Res 113:C09026. doi:10.1029/2007JC004603

    Google Scholar 

  • Løvholt F, Pedersen G, Glimsdal S (2010) Coupling of dispersive tsunami propagation and shallow water coastal response. Open Oceanogr J Caribb Waves Spec Issue 4:71–82. doi:10.2174/1874252101004020071

    Google Scholar 

  • Løvholt F, Pedersen GK, Bazin S, Kühn D, Bredesen RE, Harbitz CB (2012) Stochastic analysis of tsunami runup due to heterogeneous coseismic slip and dispersion. J Geophys Res 117:C03047. doi:10.1029/2011JC007616

    Google Scholar 

  • Lynett PJ, Borrero JC, Liu PL-F, Synolakis CE (2003) Field survey and numerical simulations: a review of the 1998 Papua New Guinea tsunami. Pure Appl Geophys 160:2119–2146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marr JG, Elverhøi A, Harbitz CB, Imran J, Harrf P (2002) Numerical simulation of mud-rich subaqueous debris flows on the glacially active margins of the Svalbard-Barents Sea. Mar Geol 188:351–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norem H, Locat J, Schieldrop BA (1990) An approach to the physics and the modeling of submarine flowslides. Mar Geotechnol 9(2):93–111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okal EA, Synolakis CE (2004) Source discriminants for near-field tsunamis. Geophys J Int 158:899–912

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Urgeles R, Leynaud D, Lastras G et al (2006) Back-analysis and failure mechanisms of a large submarine slide on the Ebro continental slope, NW Mediterranean. Mar Geol 226:185–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The study was financially supported by the EU FP6 project TRANSFER (Tsunami Risk and Strategies for the European Region, contract no. 037058), and the Research Council of Norway (RCN) under project no. 205184. The Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), and the International Centre for Geohazards (ICG) are also thanked for supporting the work on this manuscript. Reviewers Dr. Peter Talling and Dr. Filippo Zaniboni are thanked for their valuable comments and positive criticism on the manuscript. This is contribution no. 418 of the International Centre for Geohazards (ICG).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Finn Løvholt .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Løvholt, F. et al. (2014). Modeling Potential Tsunami Generation by the BIG’95 Landslide. In: Krastel, S., et al. Submarine Mass Movements and Their Consequences. Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research, vol 37. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-00972-8_45

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics