A tsunami generated by a strike-slip event. constraints from GPS and SAR data on the 2018 Palu earthquake

Wim J.F. Simons, Taco Broerse*, Lin Shen, Olga Kleptsova, Nicolai Nijholt, Andrew Hooper, Julie Pietrzak, Yu Morishita, Marc Naeije, Stef Lhermitte, Matthew Herman, D.A. Sarsito, Joni Efendi, Sofian, Rob Govers, C. Vigny, Hasanuddin Abidin, Gatot Haryo Pramono, Cahyo Nugroho, Pieter VisserRiccardo Riva

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

A devastating tsunami struck Palu Bay in the wake of the 28 September 2018 Mw = 7.5 Palu earthquake (Sulawesi, Indonesia). With a predominantly strike-slip mechanism, the question remains whether this unexpected tsunami was generated by the earthquake itself, or rather by earthquake-induced landslides. In this study we examine the tsunami potential of the co-seismic deformation. To this end, we present a novel geodetic data set of Global Positioning System and multiple Synthetic Aperture Radar-derived displacement fields to estimate a 3D co-seismic surface deformation field. The data reveal a number of fault bends, conforming to our interpretation of the tectonic setting as a transtensional basin. Using a Bayesian framework, we provide robust finite fault solutions of the co-seismic slip distribution, incorporating several scenarios of tectonically feasible fault orientations below the bay. These finite fault scenarios involve large co-seismic uplift (>2 m) below the bay due to thrusting on a restraining fault bend that connects the offshore continuation of two parallel onshore fault segments. With the co-seismic displacement estimates as input we simulate a number of tsunami cases. For most locations for which video-derived tsunami waveforms are available our models provide a qualitative fit to leading wave arrival times and polarity. The modeled tsunamis explain most of the observed runup. We conclude that co-seismic deformation was the main driver behind the tsunami that followed the Palu earthquake. Our unique geodetic data set constrains vertical motions of the sea floor, and sheds new light on the tsunamigenesis of strike-slip faults in transtensional basins.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2022JB024191
Number of pages32
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth
Volume127
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2022

Keywords

  • GPS
  • InSAR
  • Palu Bay tsunami
  • Palu earthquake
  • fault bend
  • transtension

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