Simulations of the tsunami on Samoa

NGI and ICG have made numerical simulations of generation and propagation of the tsunami which hit the Pacific islands Samoa and American Samoa on Wednesday morning Norwegian time.

The numerical simulations are based on generally available data on the earthquake in the Western Pacific and the topography in the affected area. The analysis is done by ICG and NGI's tsunami group and Professor Geir Pedersen at the University of Oslo.

The reported magnitude of earthquake southwest of Samoa islands ranges between Mw 8-8.3 on the Richter scale. Our earthquake sources is based on the combination of public available magnitude estimates, as well as seismic wave inversion by Yagi, and has a moment magnitude of Mw 8.1.

Information on sea bottom topography is provided by "General Bathymetric Charts of the Oceans". Data describing seabed movements and topography are used as input parameters for analysis of tsunami propagation by using the GloBouss modell, developed by NGI/ICG/UIO.

The results of the analyses of the tsunami hitting the islands of American Samoa and Samoa and the northern islands of Tonga can be seen in the animations at NGI's webpage. In addition, the run-up of the waves when the tsunami hits the islands were also simulated by the NOAA's ComMIT modell. NOAA Center for Tsunami Research has created theme-sites for the Samoa Event.

Read more and view simulations of the tsunamis at NGI's webpage.
Read more about NGI's state-of-the-art expertise on tsunamis.