The VOLNA code for the numerical modelling of tsunami waves: generation, propagation and inundation

TL;DR

The VOLNA code offers a comprehensive, unstructured mesh-based numerical tool for simulating the entire tsunami life-cycle, including generation, propagation, and coastal inundation, with improved wet/dry transition handling for hazard mitigation.

Contribution

This paper introduces the VOLNA code, a novel finite volume tsunami modeling tool capable of simulating the full tsunami cycle on complex domains with detailed wet/dry transition treatment.

Findings

Validated against analytical solutions and experimental data.

Demonstrated effectiveness on realistic test cases.

Potential for operational tsunami hazard assessment.

Abstract

A novel tool for tsunami wave modelling is presented. This tool has the potential of being used for operational purposes: indeed, the numerical code \VOLNA is able to handle the complete life-cycle of a tsunami (generation, propagation and run-up along the coast). The algorithm works on unstructured triangular meshes and thus can be run in arbitrary complex domains. This paper contains the detailed description of the finite volume scheme implemented in the code. The numerical treatment of the wet/dry transition is explained. This point is crucial for accurate run-up/run-down computations. Most existing tsunami codes use semi-empirical techniques at this stage, which are not always sufficient for tsunami hazard mitigation. Indeed the decision to evacuate inhabitants is based on inundation maps which are produced with this type of numerical tools. We present several realistic test cases that partially validate our algorithm. Comparisons with analytical solutions and experimental data are performed. Finally the main conclusions are outlined and the perspectives for future research presented.