Runup of landslide-generated tsunamis controlled by paleogeography and sea-level change

Abstract Pre-Holocene landslides and tsunami deposits are commonly observed on continental margins oceanic islands. However, scarce evidence has thus far linked pre-historic submarine to particular events. This work focuses an 839 km 3 landslide that occurred in the South China Sea at 0.54 Ma. Bathymetric restorations show paleoshoreline Ma was 180–580 south of its present-day location. In such a setting, triggered by able generate larger waves with shorter arrive times when compared equivalent landslide-generated under conditions. observation proves tsunamis generated during sea-level lowstands caused catastrophic damage coast past, so will do future lowstands. study stresses importance restoring paleoshorelines for detailed analysis historic tsunamis.