PUBLIC TALK: A decade of developments in tsunami science and warning systems since the 2004 Sumatra event

A public lecture by Charitha Pattiaratchi, Winthrop Professor of Coastal Oceanography, The University of Western Australia.

In this lecture, Professor Pattiaratchi will discuss advances in the tsunami science in terms of deep water propagation and inundation with respect to Western Australia, as well as the development of the Indian Ocean tsunami warning system. In Western Australia, the presence of offshore sub-surface topography on tsunami propagation plays a major role through wave refraction due to effects of deep water seamounts (Venin Meinesz) and plateaus (Wallaby, Cuvier and Exmouth). The tsunami waves are first scattered by the Venin Meinesz seamounts and are then refracted by the Wallaby and Cuvier plateaus resulting in waves being deflected onto the coast. Professor Pattiaratchi will also discuss the presence of tsunami-like waves generated by meteorological effects ('meteo-tsunamis’) that have been shown to be a regular occurrence along the WA coastline.

Cost: Free, but RSVP required via http://www.ias.uwa.edu.au/lectures/pattiaratchi