Tsunamis & submarines

[basketcase]

Not that I would ever ride my motorcycle in Samoa, but I'm sitting out here wondering about the significance of an 8.0 undersea earthquake and the impact on submarines.

I understand the surface wave can be catastrophic, but what about the undersea impacts?

Thoughts?

[35634]

My understanding is that in open water tsunami are a mild swell, and don't make their presence know until they hit shallow water. Unless the submarine was docked it probably wouldn't notice. But then, I know nothing of what I speak of:scratch

[tonkandy]

[QUOTE=35634;502866]My understanding is that in open water tsunami are a mild swell, and don't make their presence know until they hit shallow water. Unless the submarine was docked it probably wouldn't notice. /QUOTE]

Correct, although your instruments would detect the passing.

[Mika]

Something new to wonder about, so off to Google I went.

Search: tsunami underwater impact ( http://www.google.com/search?q=tsunami+underwater+impact&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7)

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090509180212AAxOsGA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsunami

Search: tsunami submarines ( http://www.google.com/search?q=tsunami+submarines&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7) yielded this link which is more on point to your question. - http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/archive/index.php?t-37521.html

Apparently there can be serious damage.

[108625]

I guess we'll know if a sub is found inland after a big tsunami :scratch

[lkchris]

My understanding is that in open water tsunami are a mild swell, and don't make their presence know until they hit shallow water. Unless the submarine was docked it probably wouldn't notice. But then, I know nothing of what I speak of:scratch

I think you've got it.

My Dad's WW2 (surface) ship survived the Hawaii tsunami of 1946 with no problem. Not in harbor but at sea, of course.