Tsunamis, known as destructive waves or seismic sea waves might be stopped with deep-ocean sound waves. The deep-ocean sound waves will get the amplitude and height of the tsunami.
An applied mathematician at the U.K.'s Cardiff University has presented his idea about preventing tsunamis or at least making them smaller. Science News has reported that acoustic energy waves can exchange its energy with the destructive seismic waves or tsunamis. If the said waves are released at the right time, it can lessen, slow down or even completely stop tsunami waves, explained Usama Kadri. The acoustic-gravity waves are super strong; it reaches the ocean's seabed or floor. It also stretches up to hundreds of kilometers; it also travels fast at really long distances.
"The classical water wave theory ignores the effects of water compressibility on the grounds that acoustic (sound) and surface (gravity) waves are virtually decoupled," Kadri explained. According to Digital Trends, since acoustic and surface waves have different temporal and spatial timescales they aren't correlated and can just ignore each other as if it does not exist, Kadri stated.
However, acoustic-gravity wave theory is related to both compressibility and gravity effects that can provide a general answer for these two types of waves, Kadri elaborate. If they are condition right, the waves can communicate with each other and exchange energies that will stop tsunamis, he further said.
His study might need further investigations and experiments as many factors should be considered if it is done. Other environmental effects and realistic scenarios are needed to be researched on. As for now, scientists don't yet have a way to create the high-energy waves that are needed.
Although, Kadri is hoping his research will help to lessen tsunamis height and power. It will help tsunamis that happened in the Indian Ocean and the tsunami that killed many in Japan to stop. Though the tsunami stopper is still a theory, if it is proven correct, it is not up to him if government and engineers will take it up.
