1 | \section{Conclusion} |
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2 | This paper proposes a new field data benchmark for the |
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3 | verification of tsunami inundation models. Currently, there is a |
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4 | scarcity of appropriate validation datasets due to a lack of well-documented |
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5 | historical tsunami impacts. The benchmark proposed here |
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6 | utilises the uniquely large amount of observational data for model |
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7 | comparison obtained during, and immediately following, the |
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8 | Sumatra--Andaman tsunami of 26 December 2004. The proposed benchmark is intended to aid validation of tsunami inundation, which is the most important stage |
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9 | of tsunami evolution. However individual tests are presented to |
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10 | facilitate model evaluation for the generation and propagation |
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11 | phases as well. In an attempt to provide higher visibility and easier |
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12 | accessibility for tsunami benchmark problems, the data used to |
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13 | construct the proposed benchmark is documented and freely available at |
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14 | \url{http://tinyurl.com/patong2004-data}. |
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15 | |
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16 | An associated aim of this paper was to further validate the |
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17 | \textsc{ursga--anuga} tsunami modelling methodology employed by Geoscience |
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18 | Australia which is used to simulate tsunami inundation. |
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19 | This study shows that the tsunami modelling methodology adopted is credible |
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20 | and able to predict detailed inundation extents and dynamics with reasonable accuracy. |
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21 | Model predictions matched well a detailed inundation survey |
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22 | of Patong Bay, Thailand as well as altimetry data from the \textsc{jason} satellite, |
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23 | eye-witness accounts of wave front arrival times and onshore flow speeds. |
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24 | |
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25 | A simple sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the influence of |
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26 | small changes in friction, wave height at the 100 m depth contour and |
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27 | the presence of buildings on the model |
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28 | predictions. Of these three, the presence of buildings was shown to |
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29 | have the greatest influence on the simulated inundation extent. This result |
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30 | indicates that the influence of human-made structures should be included, |
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31 | where possible, in any future studies. The value of friction and small |
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32 | perturbations in the waveheight at the \textsc{anuga} boundary have |
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33 | comparatively little effect on the model results. |
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