Landslide-generated Tsunamis: Geotechnical Considerations

Landslide-induced tsunamis are particularly dangerous because the warning time is very short in the coastal area. Therefore it is critical to identify the potential for coastal landslides involving large masses of material. Almost invariably such large landslides will occur in material susceptible to liquefaction, particularly during earthquakes. This paper discusses characteristics of such materials, how they may be identified, and offers suggestions for estimating the potential for large deformations.