Breaking and Non-Breaking Solitary Wave Impact Pressures on a Cylinder Over a 3-D Bathymetry
Abstract
A tsunami is a wave or a series of waves principally generated by undersea earthquakes of magnitude greater than 6.5 on the Richter scale. These long period waves can also be created by other natural disturbances such as landslides, volcanic eruptions, and explosions near the sea surface. The word tsunami is used in place of tidal wave to remove any confusion with the astronomical tides. The word tsunami comes from the Japanese words tsu (harbor) and nami (wave) and is used to describe the large waves that are seismically produced. Tsunamis in general are the product of earthquakes that extend at least partially under the sea. These earthquakes or other undersea disruptions cause sudden vertical changes in the seafloor, which in turn cause a large volume of water to be displaced from its equilibrium position to a new position of rise or depression. This change in equilibrium then moves outwards from the source of origin in the form of a tsunami. Due to the way that tsunamis are generated, the energy of the tsunami waves are evenly distributed throughout the entire water column. This differentiates tsunamis from the common wind generated waves, in that wind waves in deepwater have most of their energy held in the region of the water column near to the surface. Tsunamis are extremely long waves with long periods that can range from five minutes to several hours. Due to their very long wavelengths, tsunamis travel at the shallow water wave celerity which is equal to the square root of the gravitational acceleration times the water depth. The speed of a tsunami in the open ocean can reach in excess of 500 miles per hour. Tsunamis are also characterized by low wave height when moving through oceanic depths and are often hard to recognize when seen out in the deep ocean. As tsunamis approach the coastal region, they are affected by the rapid decrease in water depth.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA447936
Entities
People
- Charlie Bisgard
Organizations
- Oregon State University