Thursday, December 30, 2004

More information about the earthquake and tsunami: "Japan and the USA have a very a effective tsunami warning system in the Pacific Ocean. It is based on pressure sensors on the ocean floor. Tsunami waves are so long that they change the pressure at the seafloor whereas wind waves get smoothed out. It would be possible to set up a similar tsunami warning system in the Indian Ocean - for a few $million (ie the cost of a cruise missile)! The threat in this area is well documented - STH Abstract (1999): Tsunamis along the coastlines of India.

"Whether people would heed a tsunami alarm is another matter. People have been known to flock to the coast in the USA to watch for the tsunami."

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