Some sources of tsunami data¶
See also
Topography / bathymetry¶
Note that it is important to know what elevation \(B=0\) corresponds to for each topography dataset you might use (i.e. the vertical datum) Global ETOPO bathymetry is relative to MSL (Mean Sea Level), while tsunami inundation relief is often relative to MHW (Mean High Water). These can often be combined since the difference is small relative to the resolution of the global bathymetry and the result assumed to be relative to MHW. This is important if comparing to tide gauge observation or when modeling inundation.
ETOPO Global Relief Model <https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/etopo-global-relief-model> provides global bathymetry data at 15, 30 or 60 arc-second resolution. Note that ETOPO 2022 is the current version and ETOPO1 (often used in the past for GeoClaw modeling is obsolete). Subsets of the 30 or 60 arc-second versions can be downloaded using the geoclaw.topotools.read_netcdf function, see NetCDF format. For the 15 arcsecond data it is necessary to download one or more tiles from the 15 Arc-second Resolution Bedrock elevation netCDF catalog
NCEI’s Bathymetric Data Viewer (Unselect Multibeam Survey Tracklines and Hydrographic Survey Outlines and select DEM Footprings to see what is available.)
NOAA NCEI inundataion relief: High resolution data near US coastlines. Includes a link to the THREDDS Data Server for direct access, and Metadata
It is also possible to open a remote NetCDF file on the NOAA THREDDS server to download data, which allows downloading only a subsampled subset of a large DEM. See NetCDF format for more details.
Earthquake source models¶
An earthquake source is typically specified by giving the slip along the fault on a set of fault planes or on subfaults making up a single plane. This data must then be converted into seafloor deformation to create the dtopo file needed for GeoClaw (see Topography displacement files). This conversion is often done using the Okada model as described at Earthquake sources: Fault slip and the Okada model.
DART buoy data¶
Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART®)
Tide gauges¶
Tide gauge data is often recorded relative to MLLW (Mean Lower-Low Water), so be sure to check the vertical datum.
For example, if you go to a station page such as Hilo Bay, you will see a Datums link at the bottom that gives the difference between MLLW and other water levels such as MHW, which might be the reference level for the bathymetry. (Be sure to switch from feet to meters!) Sometimes you can also select the Datum to use when retrieving data.
