Fulltext

Mass Movement-Induced Tsunami Hazard on Perialpine Lake Lucerne (Switzerland): Scenarios and Numerical Experiments

Hilbe, Michael ; Anselmetti, Flavio

In: Pure and Applied Geophysics, 2015, vol. 172, no. 2, p. 545-568

Ajouter à la liste personnelle
    Titre
    • Mass Movement-Induced Tsunami Hazard on Perialpine Lake Lucerne (Switzerland): Scenarios and Numerical Experiments
    Auteur
    • Hilbe, Michael. Department of Surface Waters, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
    • Anselmetti, Flavio. Institute of Geological Sciences and Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Berne, Baltzerstrasse 1+3, 3012, Berne, Switzerland
    Type de document
    • Postprint
    Langue
    • Anglais
    Publié dans
    • Pure and Applied Geophysics, 2015, vol. 172, no. 2, p. 545-568. Springer Basel
    Autre version électronique
    Identifiant OAI-PMH
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:331435
    Summary
    Previous studies of the sediments of Lake Lucerne have shown that massive subaqueous mass movements affecting unconsolidated sediments on lateral slopes are a common process in this lake, and, in view of historical reports describing damaging waves on the lake, it was suggested that tsunamis generated by mass movements represent a considerable natural hazard on the lakeshores. Newly performed numerical simulations combining two-dimensional, depth-averaged models for mass-movement propagation and for tsunami generation, propagation and inundation reproduce a number of reported tsunami effects. Four analysed mass-movement scenarios—three based on documented slope failures involving volumes of 5.5 to 20.8×106m3—show peak wave heights of several metres and maximum runup of 6 to>10m in the directly affected basins, while effects in neighbouring basins are less drastic. The tsunamis cause large-scale inundation over distances of several hundred metres on flat alluvial plains close to the mass-movement source areas. Basins at the ends of the lake experience regular water-level oscillations with characteristic periods of several minutes. The vulnerability of potentially affected areas has increased dramatically since the times of the damaging historical events, recommending a thorough evaluation of the hazard.