Regional tsunami hazard from splay faults in the Gulf of Oman

The present study evaluates the tsunami hazard from splay thrust and normal faults in the western MAKRAN, Gulf of OMAN for the first time. We interpret splay thrust and normal faults in the Gulf of OMAN using reflection seismic data and analyze the implied regional deterministic and probabilistic tsunami hazards. The tsunami hazards associated with splay thrust and more specifically normal faults in MAKRAN have not been well understood before. Our results indicate the need to pay much more attention to hazards from splay thrust and normal faults in the MAKRAN subduction zone. The highest tsunami waves impact JASK and MUSCAT. The results of inundation modeling show the high power of generated tsunami waves to penetrate inland. Our tsunami hazard deaggregation analysis indicates an unusual large contribution from normal faults to the local tsunami hazard. We find out that the probability that tsunami wave height exceeds 1 m and 3 m in 250 years reach 1 and 0.8 in the Gulf of OMAN Basin.

Automated summary

This study evaluates the tsunami hazard posed by splay thrust and normal faults in the western Makran region and Gulf of Oman for the first time. Seismic data is used to interpret these faults and analyze the potential tsunami hazards. The results highlight the need for increased attention to the hazards posed by these faults in the Makran subduction zone, particularly the normal faults. The highest impact of tsunami waves is observed in Jask and Muscat, and inundation modeling reveals their ability to penetrate into inland areas. The deaggregation analysis shows a significant contribution to the local tsunami hazard from normal faults. The probability of tsunami wave heights exceeding 1 meter and 3 meters in the Gulf of Oman Basin over a 250-year period is found to be 1 and 0.8, respectively.