Tsunami propagation scenarios in the South China Sea

Abstract

This paper studies extreme tsunami scenarios in the South China Sea potentially originated from a giant rupture along the Manila Trench. Tsunami height and arrival time to the major coasts along the SCS are computed using TUNAMI-N2-NUS model. Sensitivity of tsunami parameters to the rupture properties is explored numerically. For tsunami waves potentially originated from the Manila Trench, it is shown that the Sunda Shelf and the Natuna Islands may act as a natural barriers, sheltering southwest part of the South China Sea and Singapore Strait. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.