Tsunami Modelling with Static and Dynamic Tides in Drowned River Valleys with Morphological Constrictions

Tsunami modelling is widely used to estimate the potential impacts of tsunamis. Models require a tide input, which can be either static, representing a specific tide level, such as Highest Astronomic Tide or dynamic, which represents a moving tide level. Although commonly used, static tide inputs do not account for tsunami–tide interactions, which are known to be non-linear and more significant in estuaries when compared to the open coast. To demonstrate the differences between tsunami models using static or dynamic tide inputs, a series of models were carried out for two New South Wales estuaries, Sydney harbour and port hacking. Model boundary conditions phased a MW 9.0 Puysegur source tsunami with multiple tide scenarios. Fourteen distinct scenarios with dynamic tides were created by phasing the largest tsunami wave peak at regular intervals across the tidal range. For comparison, static tide models were run using equivalent tide levels. The situations where static tide models provide results comparable or more conservative than dynamic tide models are for the first 1–2 h after tsunami arrival, at high tides, and when compared to dynamic falling tides at the same tide level. Differences are most apparent upriver of geomorphological constrictions. The effects of geomorphological constrictions were further examined using idealised model setups with a constriction variable. Results show that constrictions affect downriver maximum water levels, tsunami wave heights, upriver water accumulation and inundation maxima and distributions. These results have implications for estuaries vulnerable to erosion at constriction sites during a tsunami event.