On the use of the finite fault solution for tsunami generation Problems

The present study is devoted to the problem of tsunami wave generation. The main goal of this work is twofold. First of all, we propose a simple and computationally inexpensive model for the description of the sea bed displacement during an underwater earthquake, based on the finite fault solution for the slip distribution under some assumptions on the dynamics of the rupturing process. Once the bottom motion is reconstructed, we study waves induced on the free surface of the ocean. For this purpose, we consider three different models approximating the Euler equations of thewaterwave theory. Namely, we use the linearized Euler equations (we are in fact solving the Cauchy-Poisson problem), a Boussinesq system, and a novel weakly nonlinear model. An intercomparison of these approaches is performed. The developments of the present study are illustrated on the July 17, 2006 Java event, where an underwater earthquake of magnitude 7.7 generated a tsunami that inundated the southern coast of Java.