3D numerical simulation of tsunami generation and propagation, case study: Makran tsunami generation and penetrating in Chabahar Bay

The Makran subduction located at the northwest of the Indian ocean, at the Oman Sea mouth has been and is the source of massive tsunamis that threatens the coasts of Iran, Pakistan, India and Oman. The initial tsunami wave produced by the magnitude and focal depth of Makran submarine earthquake in 1945 is determined based on the Okada algorithm. 3D propagation of the generated mega wave in the Indian Ocean and Oman Sea is simulated by adopting OpenFOAM open source CFD software, in its global sense and verified vs. the available data. The wave characteristics are extracted from the global model at the mouth of Chabahar Bay are inserted as the input in a regional model which consist of precise geometry and bathymetry of the bay and finer mesh size. The wave run-up is predicted at the main ports at the Indian Ocean and Oman Sea coastline. The obtained results are implemented to assess the tsunami risk zone of Teess beach town, at Chabahar Bay coastline. The advanced procedure applied in this research consists of the accurate production of the original tsunami and three stages of global and regional 3D and local 2D propagation simulation, that provides reliable results in more accurate estimation of wave run up height and tsunami risk zone, for practical engineering applications. •A 3D numerical simulation package is introduced for generation and propagation of tsunami.•Initial tsunami produced by the Makran submarine earthquake in 1945 is produced based on the Okada algorithm.•3D propagation of the generated mega N-wave is simulated by adopting OpenFOAM open source CFD software.•The wave run-up is predicted by the model at main ports at the Indian Ocean and Oman Sea coastline.•The model is implemented to assess the tsunami risk zone of Teess beach town, at Chabahar Bay coastline.