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Tsunami Sources in the Caribbean and Eastern Us

Description: 

In 2019 the Powell Center Working Group on Tsunami Sources held a meeting on Caribbean, East Coast, and Gulf Coast tsunami sources with the aim of synthesizing the current state of knowledge of the tsunamigenic sources in the region, identifying gaps in our understanding of the various processes and data, and initiating the development of a source model for future hazard studies. The character of the tsunami hazard in these regions is somewhat different from the Pacific zones because submarine landslides may be significant for the hazard in the Caribbean at return periods of typical engineering interest (e.g. 2500 year ).

For earthquake generated tsunamis, we compiled an inventory of potential sources, focusing on the Antilles subduction zone, Muertos trough and associated structures as well as crustal sources throughout the area (e.g. Mona Passage, Anegada Passage).

An important aspect of these models is the segmentation of the Caribbean-Atlantic plate boundary, which governs the maximum magnitude that can occur on these structures. Especially on the Lesser Antilles Trench, there is little direct data to constrain deformation rates and coupling, but paleoseismic data, such as uplifted coral reefs, start to fill in some of these gaps. In other areas such as the Muertos Trough, geodetic data indicate that there is a significant lateral variation in geodetic rates along strike, suggesting a segmentation of this structure. We will present the preliminary source model.

The issue of submarine landslides is complex since we have very few direct observations of these processes, and there are large uncertainties in their dynamic properties, their locations, volume and rates of occurrence. These sources are significant for the Caribbean and may dominate the hazard along the Eastern seaboard. The discussions highlighted the progress in this field and helped identify current gaps that need to be resolved before a comprehensive PTHA can be performed.

Session: The Future of Tsunami Science, Preparedness and Response [Poster]

Type: Poster

Date: 4/19/2023

Presentation Time: 08:00 AM (local time)

Presenting Author: Powell Center Working Group on Tsunami Sources

Student Presenter: No

Invited Presentation: 

Authors