Modeling potential tsunami generation by the BIG’95 landslide

The BIG’95 landslide was emplaced 11,500 years ago and is one of the largest known submarine landslides in the Mediterranean Sea. The simulated landslide dynamics matches the observed run-out and deposited thickness. Water elevation simulated by using a dispersive tsunami model exceed 10 m close to the landslide area and at the nearest shorelines. Modeling further indicates that the tsunami probably had widespread consequences in the Mediterranean. Compared to previous studies, this new simulation provides larger waves. There is, however, still a need to better constrain the landslide dynamics in order to illuminate the uncertainties related to the tsunamigenic power of this, and other, submarine landslides.