Articles | Volume 13, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-13-2863-2013
© Author(s) 2013. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.A wavefront orientation method for precise numerical determination of tsunami travel time
Abstract. We present a highly accurate and computationally efficient method (herein, the "wavefront orientation method") for determining the travel time of oceanic tsunamis. Based on Huygens' Principle, the method uses an eight-point grid-point pattern and the most recent information on the orientation of the advancing wavefront to determine the time for a tsunami to travel to a specific oceanic location. The method is shown to provide improved accuracy and reduced anisotropy compared with the conventional multiple grid-point method presently in widespread use.