68th Canadian Geotechnical Conference and 7th Canadian Permafrost Conference

TESTING A LANDSLIDE-GENERATED TSUNAMI MODEL. THE CASE OF THE NICOLET LANDSLIDE (QUÉBEC, CANADA)

Session: Landslides and Slope Stability III / Mouvements de terrain et stabilité des pentes III

Martin Franz, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne (Suisse)
Michel Jaboyedoff, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne (Suisse)
Jacques Locat, Département de géologie et génie géologique, Université Laval (Canada)
Yury Podladchikov, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne (Suisse)

In order to assess comprehensively landslide-triggered tsunamis and the induced risks, we have developed a numerical model which simulates this phenomenon. In order to confirm its capacity to be used as a predictive tool for risk assessment, the model is tested on a real case. The Nicolet landslide (Québec, Canada) occurred on the 8 May 2006 on the Nicolet Sud-Ouest River located in the center of the St-Laurence Lowland. This partially submerged landslide has a volume of about 13’000 m3. The slide led to a wave and the resulting horizontal run-up distance reached 60 meters on the opposite shore (clearly identifiable on an aerial). The results of our model fit well with the real case, which indicate its ability to simulate such phenomenon and thus confirm its validity.