Tsunamis lead to extensive damage and loss of life. Some examples are the tsunami disaster in the Indian Ocean in 2004, and tsunamis at Loen and Tafjord in Norway, which killed a total of 174 people early in the last century.
NGI has knowledge of how tsunamis arise and propagate and can estimate wave heights and potential hazard zones.
NGI's state-of-the-art expertise
- numerical modelling of the generation and propagation of tsunamis
- interdisciplinary research linked to tsunamis that result from earthquakes and submarine slides in the sea, fjords and lakes
- coupling of numerical simulations and geological or seismological assessments to determine the hazard level
Services related to tsunamis
Tsunamis represent a serious threat in exposed areas. They are generated by geological events, mostly earthquakes, rock slides or submarine slides.
Analysis of geological conditions and wave dynamics and insight into measures that can reduce the impact of a tsunami make it possible to assess risk. This knowledge contributes to prevent loss of human life and to reduce material damage.
Research and challenges
NGI is currently concentrating on research to link various calculation tools in order to simulate the generation and propagation of tsunamis and estimate the run-up. The goal is to be able to predict the run-up height more precisely for limited geographical areas. The results will be used for local contingency and land planning.
Our research also focuses on
- regional and global risk assessment with respect to tsunamis
- slide generated tsunamis in Norway
- earthquake-generated waves
NGI cooperates with Norwegian and international geotechnical communities on earthquakes, landslides and submarine slides via the International Centre for Geohazards (ICG).