Abstract
There are two major factors which make it difficult to simulate tsunami run-up in the Kitakami River by the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake. Since the water level gauges in the bay or estuary broke due to the huge tsunami, inflow volumes from the ocean and tsunami waves could not be estimated. And, the water running up in the river flowed out to the inundation area not only by overflowing but also levee breaches. It is considered that these flows have significant effects on the behavior of tsunami run-up in the river.
This study aims to discuss the observed data based on the simulation of the tsunami run-up and inundation in the Kitakami River. First, we conducted the simulations using two fault models and discussed the reproducibility, particularly of the inflow conditions of the tsunami. Second, we investigated the simulations with and without levee breaches. Through comparisons between the simulations and observation results, the effects of levee breaches on the tsunami were discussed.
