Thread: Quations about the tsunami

Originally Posted by echnidna

So are there any lessons from the tsunami.
While the waves were reported as only being 6ft high why were they able to write off 2 storey buildings?
How far inland did they travel?
What land elevation was safe?

If you go to the beach and watch the waves coming in youll notice they dont seem that high as they roll through deep water. As they approach the beach and water depth decreases the height of the waves increases. Same thing happens with a tsunami but on as much larger scale...a lot more energy involved than a wind driven wave.

The waves get even higher if they are laterall restricted...eg if theyre tearing up a street or through a built up area.

How far inland do they travel....depends on wave size and topography theyre travelling over.

What land elevation is safe? Cant give you a number. I youre getting worried then you have two options: 1. move to a higher location or 2. keep a pair of running shoes by your bed and start injecting yourself with steroids.

Martin

Originally Posted by Pat

Having a captain's at the site, that you provided Al, I think that we may see more of our eastern cousins migrating westward as the two little knolls get the living shiite shaken out of them!

Pat

(I am, of course, refering to our New Zealand neighbours, for the non - Australasian members )

Um theres actually three little knolls......you left out Stewart Island.

Looking at the topography of Australia and NZ I think Id be staying in NZ if a tsunami was heading my way.....the country's generally alot higher than Australia.