NULACAN · NUmerical investigation of LAndslides and tsunamis in CANary Islands

Landslides induced by volcanic activity can lead to deadly tsunamis. The urgency of developing effective hazard and risk assessments for landslides and tsunamis is highlighted by past tragic events. Nonetheless, specific guidelines for risk assessment concerning landslides and tsunamis are currently lacking. Landslide tsunamis can be triggered by submarine or subaerial landslides. However, the complex multiphase and multiphysics dynamics of landslides interacting with the ocean lead to a large number of uncertainties that diminish our capacity to quantify the risk associated with potential landslides and the subsequent tsunamis. Thus, the goal of this project is to reduce the uncertainties in landslide modeling, water/landslide interactions, and tsunami generation. This pioneer research intends to improve the accuracy of future probabilistic tsunami hazard assessments in the Canary Islands. The project comprises two phases: The first phase of the project investigates submarine landslides and their turbidity currents to gain insights into deposit shapes and triggering mechanisms. Numerical simulations will be conducted to study the evolution of the seabed during volcanic eruptions and the potential mechanisms that enhance landslide mobility. The second phase focuses on subaerial landslides, considering the interaction of air, water, and soil. More specifically, the project aims to accurately predict the energy transfer from landslides to wave generation. Different numerical approaches, including discrete element method, finite volume method, and depth-averaged equations will be used to provide a comprehensive analysis of landslide dynamics from local to large scales. Through a case study using real field data, the project will validate a multiscale numerical approach and mitigate the current knowledge gaps, paving the way for a future probabilistic tsunami hazard assessment of the Canary Islands.