Geowave validation with case studies : accurate geology reproduces observations

Boussinesq wave models have been introduced in tsunami science with considerable success. Methodical simulations of case studies provide a critical form of validation for these models. In current simulation techniques, developed since the 1998 Papua New Guinea event, carefully derived tsunami sources are input into a fourth order Boussinesq water wave simulation code (Geowave) capable of capturing wave dissipation, wave breaking, wave dispersion, and nonlinear wave activity. When the tsunami source is known, almost all tsunami observations can be captured with a single, direct Boussinesq simulation. Here, we summarize case studies for the following events: 125 k BP, Alika 2, Hawaii, US, 1908 Messina Strait, Italy, 1946 Unimak, Alaska, US, 1998 Sissano, Papua New Guinea, among other tsunami events.