Tsunami 101
Posted by Jamie Boucher
on Oct 18, 2011
TSU - HARBOR; NAMI - WAVE = TSUMANI... Weather Expert, and fellow Rotarian, John Lindsey gave us an abbreviated version of harbor wave action and the impacts they could have on land. He explained that there are 3 types of ocean waves - 1) wind generated waves; 2) tidal cycle waves; and, 3) tsunamis (or seismic sea waves). The wave length (measured crest to crest) tells us which kind of wave we are seeing. In a worst case scenario, seismic action creates the swells, then based on the wave length - the longer the wave length, the more the wave continues to surge - you can determine the height of a tsunami and very possibly what damage it has the potential to do. Well, at least John can do that... us?? not so much...