hypothetical-composite-line: Estimated, "maximum credible scenario" inundation line that encompasses the maximum extent of flooding based on model simulation of all credible source scenarios and historical observations. The "maximum credible scenario" inundation line becomes a basis for local tsunami hazard planning and development of evacuation maps. hypothetical-composite-flow-depth: Raster image depicting maximum composite flow depths over dry land. tectonic-scenario-01: Scenario 1. Repeat of the 1964 event: Source function based on coseismic deformation model by Johnson and others (1996); tectonic-scenario-02: Scenario 2. Repeat of the 1964 event: Source function based on coseismic deformation model by Suito and Freymueller (2009) (SDM); tectonic-scenario-03: Scenario 3. Multi-Segment JDM event: Source function based on extension of the JDM; tectonic-scenario-04: Scenario 4. Multi-Segment SDM event: Source function based on extension of the SDM; tectonic-scenario-05: Scenario 5. Rupture of the Yakutat-Yakataga segment; tectonic-scenario-06: Scenario 6. Rupture of the Cascadia zone, including portions of the margin along the British Columbia and northern California shores; tectonic-scenario-07: Scenario 7. Modified 1964 event: Prince William Sound asperity of the JDM; tectonic-scenario-08: Scenario 8. Modified 1964 event: Kodiak asperity of the JDM; tectonic-scenario-09: Scenario 9. Modified 1964 event: Prince William Sound asperity of the SDM; tectonic-scenario-10: Scenario 10. Modified 1964 event: Kodiak asperity of the SDM; tectonic-scenario-11: Scenario 11. Modified multi-segment JDM event: Rupture of the PWS and YY segments; >tectonic-scenario-12: Scenario 12. Modified multi-segment SDM event: Rupture of the PWS and YY segments; tectonic-scenario-13: Scenario 13. Mw8.8 earthquake in the Gulf of Alaska region: 17-30 km (10.5-18.6 mi), uniform slip along strike; tectonic-scenario-14: Scenario 14. Mw8.8 earthquake in the Gulf of Alaska region: 13-28 km (8.1-17.4 mi), variable slip along strike; tectonic-scenario-15: Scenario 15. Mw 8.8 earthquake in the Gulf of Alaska region: 12-29 km (7.5-18 mi), variable slip along strike; landslide-scenario-16: Scenario 16. Repeat of the 1964-type event: An underwater slide at the head of Port Valdez (HPV slide); landslide-scenario-17: Scenario 17. Repeat of the 1964-type event: An underwater slide at the Shoup Bay moraine (SBM slide); landslide-scenario-18: Scenario 18. Hypothetical event: An underwater slide offshore of Mineral Creek (MC slide); landslide-scenario-19: Scenario 19. Hypothetical event: An underwater slide offshore of Gold Creek (GC slide); landslide-scenario-20: Scenario 20. Hypothetical event: An underwater slide offshore of Lowe River (LR slide); landslide-scenario-21: Scenario 21. Hypothetical event: An underwater slide at Shoup Bay moraine (SBM residual slide); landslide-scenario-22: Scenario 22. Hypothetical event: Simultaneous failure of underwater slide complexes described by scenarios 13-16 (Combined slide);
Nicolsky, D.J., Suleimani, E.N., Haeussler, P.J., Ryan, H.F., Koehler, R.D., Combellick, R.A., and Hansen, R.A., 2013, Tsunami inundation maps of Port Valdez, Alaska: Report of Investigation RI 2013-1, Alaska Division of Geological Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.Online Links:
This is a vector data set.
The horizontal datum used is World Geodetic System of 1984.
The ellipsoid used is World Geodetic System of 1984.
The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257223563.
This project was supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under Reimbursable Service Agreement ADN 0931000 with State of Alaska's Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management. Some of the research in this publication is sponsored by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Institute for Alaska Research with funds from NOAA under cooperative agreement NA08OAR4320751 with the University of Alaska. Numerical calculations for this work were supported by a grant of High Performance Computing (HPC) resources from the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center (ARSC) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Reviews by Rob Witter and one anonymous reviewer improved the report and maps. We would like to thank K. Labay and D. West for the development of the high-resolution DEM of Port Valdez; and N. Ruppert, D. Christensen, and J. Freymueller for their help in developing the hypothetical scenarios.
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Large seismic events occurring in the vicinity of the Alaska Peninsula, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska have a very high potential for generating both local and Pacific-wide tsunamis. Saving lives and property depends on how well a community is prepared, which makes it essential to estimate the potential flooding of the coastal zone in the case of a local or distant tsunami. The Alaska Tsunami Mapping Team (ATMT) participates in the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP) by evaluating and mapping potential inundation of selected parts of the Alaska coastline using numerical modeling of tsunami wave dynamics. The communities are selected for inundation modeling in coordination with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) with consideration for location, infrastructure, availability and quality of bathymetric and topographic data, and community involvement. The Port Valdez tsunami inundation maps described in the associated manuscript represent the results of the continuous effort of state and federal agencies to produce inundation maps for many Alaska coastal communities.
Caldwell, R.J., Eakins, B.W., and Lim, E., 2011, Digital elevation models of Prince William Sound, Alaska-Procedures, Data Sources and Analysis: NOAA Technical Memorandum NESDIS NGDC-40, National Geophysical Data Center, Marine Geology and Geophysics Division, Boulder, Colorado.
Coulter, H.W., and Migliaccio, R.R., 1966, Effects of the earthquake of March 27, 1964 at Valdez, Alaska: Professional Paper P 542-C, U.S. Geological Survey, United States.Online Links:
Johnson, J.M., Satake, Kenji, Holdahl, S.R., and Sauber, Jeanne, 1996, The 1964 Prince William Sound earthquake-Joint inversion of tsunami waveforms and geodetic data: Journal of Geophysical Research v. 101, no. B1, American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC, United States.
Nicolsky, D.J, Suleimani, E.N, and Hansen, R.A, 2011, Validation and verification of a numerical model for tsunami propagation and runup: Pure and Applied Geophysics v. 168, Birkhauser Geoscience, Switzerland.
Plafker, George, Kachadoorian, Reuben, Eckel, E.B., and Mayo, L.R., 1969, Effects of the earthquake of March 27, 1964 on various communities: Professional Paper P 542-G, U.S. Geological Survey, United States.Online Links:
Ryan, H.F, Lee, H.J, Haeussler, P.J, Alexander, C.R, and Kayen, R.E, 2010, Historic and paleo-submarine landslide deposits imaged beneath Port Valdez, Alaska - Implications for tsunami generation in a glacial fiord, in Mosher, D.C. and others, eds., Submarine Mass Movements and their Consequences: Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research Vol. 28, Springer Science+Business Media B.V., Dordrecht - Boston - London, International.
Suito, Hisashi, and Freymueller, J.T, 2010, A viscoelastic and afterslip postseismic deformation model for the 1964 Alaska earthquake: Journal of Geophysical Research v. 114, no. B11, American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC, United States.
Wilson, B.W, and Torum, Alf, 1972, Effects of the tsunamis - An engineering study, in The Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964: National Academy of Sciences - Engineering, Washington, DC, United States.
Data sources used in this process:
Data sources used in this process:
Data sources used in this process:
Suleimani, E.N., Nicolsky, D.J., and Koehler, R.D., 2013, Tsunami inundation maps of Sitka, Alaska: Report of Investigation RI 2013-3, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.Online Links:
Nicolsky, D.J., Suleimani, E.N., Combellick, R.A., and Hansen, R.A., 2011, Tsunami inundation maps of Whittier and western Passage Canal, Alaska: Report of Investigation RI 2011-7, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.Online Links:
Suleimani, E.N., Combellick, R.A., Marriott, D., Hansen, R.A., Venturato, A.J., and Newman, J.C., 2005, Tsunami hazard maps of the Homer and Seldovia areas, Alaska: Report of Investigation RI 2005-2, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.Online Links:
Suleimani, E.N., Hansen, R.A., Combellick, R.A., and Carver, G.A., 2002, Tsunami hazard maps of the Kodiak area, Alaska: Report of Investigation RI 2002-1, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.Online Links:
Suleimani, E.N., Nicolsky, D.J., West, D.A., Combellick, R.A., and Hansen, R.A., 2010, Tsunami inundation maps of Seward and northern Resurrection Bay, Alaska: Report of Investigation RI 2010-1, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.Online Links:
The maps showing the results of our modeling have been completed using the best information available, and are believed to be accurate; however, their preparation required many assumptions. We considered several tectonic and landslide scenarios and provide an estimate of maximum credible tsunami inundation. Actual conditions during a tsunami event may vary from those considered, so the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The limits of inundation shown should be used only as a guideline for emergency planning and response action. Actual areas inundated will depend on specifics of the earth deformations, on-land construction, and tide level, and they may differ from areas shown by this data. The information is intended to permit state and local agencies to plan emergency evacuation and tsunami response actions in the event of a major tsunamigenic earthquake. These results are not intended for land-use regulation or building-code development. Users should review the accompanying report, particularly the Sources of Errors and Uncertainties section, for a detailed discussion of limitations of the methods used to generate the various inundation models.
The extent of tsunami inundation in Port Valdez was calculated through numerical modeling of water waves over bathymetry and topography. To compute a detailed map of potential tsunami inundation triggered by local and distant earthquakes, we employ a series of nested computational grids. A nested grid allows for higher resolution in areas where it is needed, without expending computer resources in areas where it is not. The computational grid was based on digital elevation models (DEMs) obtained from various U.S. federal and academic agencies. In select intertidal zones, values used to fill gaps between DEM datasets were derived from comparison of Landsat images and historic records. The highest level of horizontal resolution of the grid used for inundation modeling is about 15 m (49 ft). This scale is mostly limited by the computational resources necessary to compute the tsunami inundation at the higher resolution. The 15 m (49 ft) resolution is high enough to describe major relief features, but small topographic features, buildings, and other facilities cannot be accurately resolved by the existing model. For additional information please reference the Grid Development and Data Sources section of the associated manuscript.
The vertical accuracy of the inundation modeling is dependent on the accuracy and resolution of the digital elevation models (DEMs) and tidal datum values that were used to compile the computational grid. Prior to scenario modeling, bathymetric data were shifted to use Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) as the vertical datum. The depths of inundation shown should be used only as a guideline for emergency planning and response action. Actual inundation water depth will depend on specifics of the earth deformations, on-land construction, and tide level, and they may differ from areas shown by this data. The information is intended to permit state and local agencies to plan emergency evacuation and tsunami response actions in the event of a major tsunamigenic earthquake. These results are not intended for land-use regulation or building-code development. For additional information please reference the Grid Development and Data Sources section of the associated manuscript.
The dataset contains tsunami inundation limits for 15 tectonic and 7 landslide source scenarios. We conducted all model runs using bathymetric data that correspond to Mean Higher High Water so that the resulting maximum inundation line represents a maximum credible scenario of tsunami occurrence at high tide. Users of this dataset should note that the inundation figures presented in printed map and report focus on populated areas within the Port of Valdez project area; whereas the digital data extends throughout the entire project area.
Results of numerical modeling were verified by simulating the tectonic and landslide-generated tsunamis in Port Valdez observed during the 1964 earthquake. Inundation lines are visually inspected using GIS software for identification of anomalous elevations or data inconsistencies. See text report for detailed explanation of the tests used to determine the fidelity among the various data sources that were used to generate this dataset.
Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
- Access_Constraints:
- This report, map, and/or dataset is available directly from the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (see contact information below).
- Use_Constraints:
- This dataset includes results of numerical modeling of earthquake-generated tsunami waves for a specific community. Modeling was completed using the best information and tsunami modeling software available at the time of analysis. They are numerical solutions and, while they are believed to be accurate, their ultimate accuracy during an actual tsunami will depend on the specifics of earth deformations, on-land construction, tide level, and other parameters at the time of the tsunami. Actual areas of inundation may differ from areas shown in this dataset. Landslide tsunami sources may not be included in the modeling due to unknown potential impact of such events on a given community; please refer to accompanying report for more information on tsunami sources used for this study. The limits of inundation shown should only be used as a general guideline for emergency planning and response action in the event of a major tsunamigenic earthquake. These results are not intended for any other use, including land-use regulation or actuarial purposes. Any hard copies or published datasets utilizing these datasets shall clearly indicate their source. If the user has modified the data in any way, the user is obligated to describe the types of modifications the user has made. The user specifically agrees not to misrepresent these datasets, nor to imply that changes made by the user were approved by the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys. The State of Alaska makes no express or implied warranties (including warranties for merchantability and fitness) with respect to the character, functions, or capabilities of the electronic data or products or their appropriateness for any user's purposes. In no event will the State of Alaska be liable for any incidental, indirect, special, consequential, or other damages suffered by the user or any other person or entity whether from the use of the electronic services or products or any failure thereof or otherwise. In no event will the State of Alaska's liability to the Requestor or anyone else exceed the fee paid for the electronic service or product.
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RI 2013-1
The State of Alaska makes no expressed or implied warranties (including warranties for merchantability and fitness) with respect to the character, functions, or capabilities of the electronic data or products or their appropriateness for any user's purposes. In no event will the State of Alaska be liable for any incidental, indirect, special, consequential, or other damages suffered by the user or any other person or entity whether from the use of the electronic services or products or any failure thereof or otherwise. In no event will the State of Alaska's liability to the Requestor or anyone else exceed the fee paid for the electronic service or product.
DGGS publications are available as free online downloads or you may purchase paper hard-copies or digital files on CD/DVD or other digital storage media by mail, phone, fax, or email from the DGGS Fairbanks office. To purchase this or other printed reports and maps, contact DGGS by phone (907-451-5020), e-mail (dggspubs@alaska.gov), or fax (907-451-5050). Payment accepted: Cash, check, money order, VISA, or MasterCard. Turnaround time is 1-2 weeks unless special arrangements are made and an express fee is paid. Shipping charge will be the actual cost of postage and will be added to the total amount due. Contact us for the exact shipping amount.
| Data format: | vector and raster digital data |
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| Network links: |
<http://dx.doi.org/10.14509/25055> |
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