STATEMENT OF WORK
Tsunami Modeling in Support of the USGS Multihazards Demonstration Project
Background:
The Multihazards Demonstration Project (MHDP) of the United States Geological Survey (USGS)
Southwest Region is conducting a tsunami scenario exercise focused on understanding the impacts of
a significant trans-Pacific tsunami on southern California urban development and infrastructure. In
coordination with the MHDP, the Pacific Coastal & Marine Science Center (PCMSC) of the
USGS Southwest Region is providing support to oversee tsunami modeling for the scenario
exercise. The Southern California Earthquake Center has sufficient regional, technical, and
engineering expertise in tsunami hydrodynamics, focused on understanding the effects in southern
California ports, harbors, and developed coastal areas, to assist the USGS in this work.
Duties:
SCEC scientists will apply their knowledge and experience managing the complex activity of
numerical modeling of tsunami hydrodynamics, wave breaking, runup, drawdown, inundation, and
tsunami hazard assessment to advise senior USGS geologists and geophysicists on the effects and
impacts of a significant trans-Pacific tsunami in southern California. The results of the tsunami
modeling will be conducted well in advance of the Golden Guardian tsunami emergency
preparedness exercise scheduled by the State of California in late 2012.
Scope of Work:
For tsunami modeling associated with the MHDP tsunami scenario, SCEC will provide technical
assistance as listed below:
 Prepare dynamic rupture scenarios of a M-9 scenario earthquake along the Alaska-Aleutian
subduction zone with geological and geophysical constraints provided by the USGS;
 Provide tsunami generation calculations used as initial conditions to tsunami propagation models
from an Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone earthquake rupture scenario provided by the USGS;
 Provide trans-Pacific tsunami propagation calculations from the tsunami generation model that
are used as boundary conditions for the southern California inundation and Port of Los
Angeles/Long Beach models;
 Provide high-resolution inundation calculations for specific coastal regions in southern
California chosen by the USGS;
 Provide high-resolution calculations of wave heights, currents, and other hydrodynamic
engineering metrics for the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach.
Personnel Qualifications:
This work requires personnel with training and experience in understanding earthquake processes
and effects such as tsunamis and the ability to organize interdisciplinary research spanning