Mega-Ship-Generated Tsunami: A Field Observation in Tampa Bay, Florida
The displacement of a large amount of water in a moderate-sized estuary by a fast-moving mega-ship can generate tsunami-like waves. Such waves, generated by cruise ships, were observed in Tampa Bay, Florida, USA. Two distinct, long tsunami-like waves were measured, which were associated with the pas...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/4/437 |
| _version_ | 1797537289263382528 |
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| author | Ping Wang Jun Cheng |
| author_facet | Ping Wang Jun Cheng |
| author_sort | Ping Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The displacement of a large amount of water in a moderate-sized estuary by a fast-moving mega-ship can generate tsunami-like waves. Such waves, generated by cruise ships, were observed in Tampa Bay, Florida, USA. Two distinct, long tsunami-like waves were measured, which were associated with the passage of a large cruise ship. The first wave had a period of 5.4 min and a height of 0.40 m near the shoreline. The second wave had a period of 2.5 min and was 0.23 m high. The peak velocity of the onshore flow during the second wave reached 0.65 m/s. The shorter, second wave propagated considerably faster than the first wave in the breaking zone. The measured wave celerity was less than 50% of the calculated values, using the shallow water approximation of the dispersion equation, suggesting that nonlinear effects play an important role. A fundamental similarity among the generation of tsunamis, as induced by mega-ships, landslides or earthquakes, is a process that causes a vertical velocity at the sea surface, where a freely propagating wave is produced. This mega-ship-generated tsunami provides a prototype field laboratory for systematically studying tsunami dynamics, particularly the strong turbulent flows associated with the breaking of a tsunami wave in the nearshore, and tsunami–land interactions. It also provides a realistic demonstration for public education, which is essential for the preparation and management of this unpreventable hazard. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:13:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e4fa1192bc524e15a4cc4b67bbb73fa8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:13:00Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-e4fa1192bc524e15a4cc4b67bbb73fa82023-11-21T16:05:03ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122021-04-019443710.3390/jmse9040437Mega-Ship-Generated Tsunami: A Field Observation in Tampa Bay, FloridaPing Wang0Jun Cheng1Coastal Research Laboratory, School of Geosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USACoastal Research Laboratory, School of Geosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USAThe displacement of a large amount of water in a moderate-sized estuary by a fast-moving mega-ship can generate tsunami-like waves. Such waves, generated by cruise ships, were observed in Tampa Bay, Florida, USA. Two distinct, long tsunami-like waves were measured, which were associated with the passage of a large cruise ship. The first wave had a period of 5.4 min and a height of 0.40 m near the shoreline. The second wave had a period of 2.5 min and was 0.23 m high. The peak velocity of the onshore flow during the second wave reached 0.65 m/s. The shorter, second wave propagated considerably faster than the first wave in the breaking zone. The measured wave celerity was less than 50% of the calculated values, using the shallow water approximation of the dispersion equation, suggesting that nonlinear effects play an important role. A fundamental similarity among the generation of tsunamis, as induced by mega-ships, landslides or earthquakes, is a process that causes a vertical velocity at the sea surface, where a freely propagating wave is produced. This mega-ship-generated tsunami provides a prototype field laboratory for systematically studying tsunami dynamics, particularly the strong turbulent flows associated with the breaking of a tsunami wave in the nearshore, and tsunami–land interactions. It also provides a realistic demonstration for public education, which is essential for the preparation and management of this unpreventable hazard.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/4/437long wavesestuaryship wakenearshore hydrodynamicsprototype laboratory |
| spellingShingle | Ping Wang Jun Cheng Mega-Ship-Generated Tsunami: A Field Observation in Tampa Bay, Florida Journal of Marine Science and Engineering long waves estuary ship wake nearshore hydrodynamics prototype laboratory |
| title | Mega-Ship-Generated Tsunami: A Field Observation in Tampa Bay, Florida |
| title_full | Mega-Ship-Generated Tsunami: A Field Observation in Tampa Bay, Florida |
| title_fullStr | Mega-Ship-Generated Tsunami: A Field Observation in Tampa Bay, Florida |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mega-Ship-Generated Tsunami: A Field Observation in Tampa Bay, Florida |
| title_short | Mega-Ship-Generated Tsunami: A Field Observation in Tampa Bay, Florida |
| title_sort | mega ship generated tsunami a field observation in tampa bay florida |
| topic | long waves estuary ship wake nearshore hydrodynamics prototype laboratory |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/4/437 |
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