Effect of the Emperor seamounts on trans-oceanic propagation of the 2006 Kuril Island earthquake tsunami

The effect of tsunami wave scattering by the Emperor seamounts on the propagation of the 2006 Kuril Island earthquake tsunami is demonstrated, using the finite difference method. The model results indicate that the contribution of the Emperor seamounts on the maximum tsunami energy along the Pacific coast of Japan is found to be as much as 50% or more. Also, analysis of the spectral evolution of observed tsunami records in Japan suggests that the scattering waves from the Emperor seamounts possibly dominate the wave components at periods of 4 to 17 minutes.