JAD
Re: Re: Re: Surfing Tsunami
Originally posted by dadudemon
Well, a Tsunami is really a bunch of waves, in succession. If I remember the chart from 8th grade...it has something to do with shallower waters towards the coast and an energy transfer (from speed to height.)
Isn't always a succession of waves. The point is that the wave length is what makes it differ from standard waves. While the height of a wave can be larger the wave length of the tsunami is what causes the most destruction. Although the wave length shortens considerably as a tsunami gets close to shore it is still it's what causes the destruction.
It's only at the very tail end of the tsunami where the sea level drops (to below what it would normally be. This is because of the collosal displacement of water.
I think the scariest thing about tsunamis is the fact that it can travel across the ocean at 500mph and be virtually undetectable because it's only as it approaches shore where the sea level change is noticed. So as it passes by buoys it barely registers as a disturbance.
As AC said though, the currents near shore become immensely powerful. I remember watching an interview with 2 divers who while they were sitting on their boat off the coast of thailand in the short period before the boxing day tsunami that they couldn't tell anything was wrong but as soon as they dived into the water the currents just took them anywhere and they had no control over it at all.
DAD
Re: Re: Re: Re: Surfing Tsunami
Originally posted by jaden101
Isn't always a succession of waves.
Really? I thought it was always a succession of waves with, sometimes, a large leading wave front. (After it reaches the drawback point, of course.)
Originally posted by jaden101
The point is that the wave length is what makes it differ from standard waves. While the height of a wave can be larger the wave length of the tsunami is what causes the most destruction. Although the wave length shortens considerably as a tsunami gets close to shore it is still it's what causes the destruction.
If by wave length, you mean what is displaced at sea, then you're correct. But, really, it's about displacement and velocity. More specifically, it is the wave height.
Originally posted by jaden101
It's only at the very tail end of the tsunami where the sea level drops (to below what it would normally be. This is because of the collosal displacement of water.
Yup. Sounds good.
Originally posted by jaden101
I think the scariest thing about tsunamis is the fact that it can travel across the ocean at 500mph and be virtually undetectable because it's only as it approaches shore where the sea level change is noticed. So as it passes by buoys it barely registers as a disturbance.As AC said though, the currents near shore become immensely powerful. I remember watching an interview with 2 divers who while they were sitting on their boat off the coast of thailand in the short period before the boxing day tsunami that they couldn't tell anything was wrong but as soon as they dived into the water the currents just took them anywhere and they had no control over it at all.
That is scary. Scary as hell, actually.