Tsunamis in Australia: A nationally consistent view of the hazard from distant earthquakes
Channel: GeoscienceAustralia
Date: 2019-06-20

Australia’s coastline was subject to over 30 tsunamis since 1950, most generated by distant earthquakes in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Some induced hazardous marine currents and inundation. Should we expect larger tsunamis in future? Where? How big? How often?

The 2018 Australian Probabilistic Tsunami Hazard Assessment provides a nationally consistent basis for assessing tsunami hazards from distant earthquakes. It includes an Australia-wide database of offshore earthquake-tsunami scenarios and return periods, developed using a consistent methodology, and subject to considerable testing. In combination with high-resolution inundation models, this enables the development of onshore tsunami hazard maps anywhere in Australia.

Gareth Davies has worked for Geoscience Australia since 2010 on a range of natural hazards projects, particularly related to the computational and statistical modelling of tsunamis, floods, and coastal storm waves. He previously completed a PhD in coastal geomorphology at Wollongong University, and studied mathematics and geography at Melbourne University.

This talk is presented as part of the Distinguished Geoscience Australia Lecturer series on the 5th June 2019.