Evaluating the Tsunami Hazard in the Persian Gulf and its Possible Effects on Coastal Regions

Due to the placement of several ports, harbors, oil fields, and associated structures in the Persian Gulf, the study of tsunami hazard in this region is of vital importance for authorities. Indeed, the Persian Gulf coastlines are under threat of tsunamis which are generated in the Indian Ocean and travel across the Strait of Hormoz to strike these shorelines. One of the most tsunamigenic sources in the Indian Ocean is Makran Subduction zone in the northwest of Indian Ocean near the coastlines of Iran, Oman, Pakistan, and India. In fact, it is believed that a tsunami generated in the Makran zone has the potential to hit the Persian Gulf shorelines. Therefore, in this paper the effect of tsunami generated in the Makran zone on the coastlines of Persian Gulf is discussed. Considering different scenarios for large earthquake occurrence in the Makran zone, the propagation of possible tsunami into the Persian Gulf was modeled. In this regard, the nonlinear shallow-water theory was used to model the tsunami propagation on the coastlines. The shallow water equations are solved numerically by means of a finite difference method. Also, for selected sites in the Persian Gulf the time histories of the tsunami waves are presented.