Maximum tsunami heights by fault parameters of earthquakes with mutual information

Abstract

This study investigated the maximum tsunami heights corresponding to probable variances of fault parameters of earthquakes: strike, dip and slip angles. Numerical simulations were carried out with probable variance of these fault parameters based on four virtual tsunamis that could be triggered by a foreseeable future undersea earthquake off the western coast of Japan. Using this method, the maximum tsunami heights at Imwon Port were investigated. Furthermore, the relationship between the maximum tsunami heights and the fault parameters of earthquakes was evaluated for four virtual tsunamis. Mutual information, a measure of the dependence between two random variables, was introduced to identify relationships between them. The results indicated that strike angle showed more diverse maximum tsunami heights than the other fault parameters, while slip angle presented similar maximum tsunami heights. The strike angle was estimated to have the strongest relationship with the maximum tsunami height, regardless of the virtual tsunamis.