Tsunami Simulation along the South West Coast of India: Lakshadweep Islands acting as wave-barricade

Abstract

In the Arabian sea, the 1945 Makran Earthquake is the last grave due to Tsunamigenic earthquake that occurred in the month of November as it originated along the Makran Subduction Zone (MSZ). In this study, the effect of the propagation of Tsunami wave from MSZ and its impact all along the south west coastal area of India and the protection that Lakshadweep Islands are providing is studied. Tsunami studies are carried out with the existing bathymetry of the Indian Ocean and then this is compared with the results attained by removing the Lakshadweep Islands for two scenarios, one is 1945 Makran Tsunami and a large possible Tsunamigenic earthquake from the eastern part of Makran. With the presence the Lakshadweep Islands, Tsunami waves are amplified in the vicinity of the Lakshadweep; which in turn increases the arrival time of Tsunami waves at the southern part of the western coast of India. In the absense of Lakshadweep Islands in our simulation, the Tsunami wave arrival times and wave amplitudes becomes less at the Indian mainland near Mangalore and the wave height tends to increase towards the south western part of India. Hence the conclusion is that, Lakshadweep acts as a wave barricade for the south west coast of India.