The discussion thus far prompts me to ask two naive questions:
(1) My impression has been that tsunamis in deep water show little if
any rise above the surface, and only become huge as the waves approach
shorelines (with depths less and less of the amplitude of the wave). In
that case, would it not be relatively safe for people evacuating an
island to travel in boats to relatively deep water off the side of the
island away from the oncoming tsunami?
(2) However, is it possible that a tsunami in deep water, however well
its amplitude is concealed, could in effect create a current in the
direction of wave travel? For island evacuees sufficiently offshore on
the island side away from the wave, would there be a risk that the wave
action not eliminated by the island would carry boats farther offshore
(perhaps too far to return easily)?
Richard W. Wilsnack
Department of Clinical Neuroscience
University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037
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