Modeling of the February 1996 Peruvian tsunami

The February 1996 Peruvian earthquake generated a larger tsunami than expected from its surface magnitude. This discrepancy as well as the long rupture duration indicate that this event is a 'tsunami earthquake'. The associated tsunami was strong locally with runup heights of 1 to 5 meters along a coastline of 400 km. It is shown that this tsunami can be modeled for a seismic moment of 2.10(20) Nm, using a rigidity of 2.10(10) N/m(2). The tsunami propagation is modeled solving long wave equations by a finite difference method. The maximum run-up heights in the region of Chimbote can be simulated using a grid increment of 10 meters. The propagation of this small tsunami across the Pacific Ocean is modeled taking into account frequency dispersion. The only notable amplification occurred in the Marquesas Islands where wave heights of 2 meters were observed and are simulated.