3 
1 INTRODUCTION 6 
2 SELECTED LITERATURE AND WEB SITES 7 
3 SOURCES OF RELEVANCE TO THE NORTH SEA 9 
3.1 Earthquakes 9 
3.2 Volcanic eruptions 10 
3.3 Slope failures 11 
3.4 Meteoritic impacts 13 
4 HISTORIC TSUNAMI AFFECTING THE NORTH SEA 15 
5 TSUNAMI BEHAVIOUR UPON REACHING SHALLOW WATER 16 
5.1 Wave theoretical interpretation 16 
5.1.1 Wave theories 16 
5.1.2 Equations of wave theories 18 
5.1.3 Applicability of the equations to tsunami events 19 
5.2 Propagation and modification in the deep ocean 23 
5.3 Modification on the continental slope 24 
5.4 Modification and attenuation on the continental shelf 25 
5.4.1 Modification 25 
5.4.2 Attenuation 26 
5.4.3 Topographic effects 28 
5.5 Modification near the coastline 29 
6 MODEL CONCEPT 31 
6.1 Concepts of existing models and their relevance to BSH models 31 
6.1.1 Generation of an initial distribution of the surface elevation 31 
6.1.2 Propagation and modification in the near field 31 
6.1.3 Deep ocean propagation 32 
6.1.4 Modification on the continental slope 32 
6.1.5 Propagation and modification on the shelf 33 
6.1.6 Boundary conditions 36 
6.1.7 Propagation and modification in near-shore areas and estuaries 39 
6.1.8 Run-up and inundation 40 
6.2 Outlook for dispersion modelling in BSH models 40 
7 MODEL SIMULATIONS AS PART OF THE PROJECT 43 
7.1 Boundary conditions and input signals 45 
7.2 North-East Atlantic Ocean 46 
7.2.1 Propagation 47 
7.2.2 Travel times and water levels 49