Assessment of potential tsunamigenic seismic hazard to Sri Lanka

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present an assessment of the potential tsunamigenic seismic hazard to Sri Lanka from all active subduction zones in the Indian Ocean Basin.Design/methodology/approach – The assessment was based on previous studies as well as past seismicity of the subducion zones concerned.Findings – Accordingly, four seismic zones capable of generating teletsunamis that could reach Sri Lanka have been identified, namely, Northern Andaman‐Myanmar, Northern Sumatra‐Andaman and Southern Sumatra in the Sunda trench and Makran in the Northern Arabian Sea. Moreover, plausible worst‐case earthquake scenarios and respective fault parameters for each of these seismic zones have been recommended.Research limitations/implications – However, other potential tsunami sources such as seismic activity in the near‐field, submarine landslides and volcanic eruptions have not been considered.Practical implications – Numerical simulations of tsunami propagation have been carried out for each of the f...

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