What is Seismic Exploration?
Nov






What is a Tsunami, and how is it formed? A Tsunami is a wave of water that has a very long wavelength, and it is caused by the disruption of a body of standing water, or when the sea floor is suddenly displaced. There are several things that can cause a Tsunami to occur, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, underwater explosions, meteorite impacts, and other events that can cause the water to be displaced. Tsunami can be called by many names, including tidal waves, seismic sea waves, and other terms. These natural formations can be deadly, especially to coastal communities. One coastal community may be relatively untouched, while another just miles away can be completely destroyed. When a Tsunami wave recedes, it can take debris and even humans back out to sea with it.
Earthquakes are one cause of a Tsunami. An earthquake can disturb the floor of the sea, and any time an earthquake occurs under the ocean or along the coasts a Tsunami can be generated. The stronger the earthquake, the bigger the Tsunami, but not all earthquakes will cause one. The displacement of the water and the seafloor is also critical, because only vertical displacement will usually result in a Tsunami. Most Tsunami that are generated by earthquakes have either reverse or normal displacement, and these occur most often by earthquakes that happen along the plate boundaries and along the trenches in these areas. The Pacific Ocean is ringed by these plate boundaries, and because of this the Pacific Ocean margins have earthquakes which commonly result in a Tsunami. Continue Reading »

Powerful hurricanes seen in the last ten years have been very destructive, but these hurricanes also have the potential to be used as an energy source, if their energy can be harnessed. Hurricanes release energy, and in one day the amount of energy released by a single hurricane is enough to equal the amount of electricity consumed in the entire world for a two hundred day period. Hurricanes last for more than one day, and they continue to build as long as the ocean water is warm enough to supply the energy needed. Once a hurricane reaches cooler water or land, the energy source is gone and the hurricane will slowly diminish and release less energy.
Powerful hurricanes hold an enormous potential as renewable energy sources, and one aspect of these storms is the renewable wind energy that can be harnessed. Wind turbines have been in use for years, and wind turbines at sea have shown significant potential concerning wind energy benefits. The ocean is an open space, which means that there are no obstacles to slow down or block the wind over the water until it hits the land. This allows the wind to gain more energy, and wind farms that are located offshore can produce large amounts of energy in good weather. The amounts of energy that could be harvested during powerful hurricanes and tropical storms could be enough to supply the world with electricity all year long. The possibility of harnessing the power of the wind from powerful hurricanes can be an answer to the energy crisis, global warming, and the dependence on fossil fuels and foreign countries. Continue Reading »

Unfortunately, some scientists feel that Hurricane Ike and the devastation it caused was unusual. There is no question that hurricanes will get worse as greenhouse gases continue to trap heat and raise surface temperatures. In order to understand this, you need to look at three side effects of global warming and how they directly contribute to hurricane formation.
Sources of Heat and Ocean Currents
Today, most people think of the sun's rays simply as the Earth's primary heatsource. Few realize that the shifting of plates which cause earthquakes and volcanoes also supply heat to the ocean floors. Unlike sunrays, these processes may play a key role in the motion of ocean currents, which in turn, aid in the development of hurricanes and tropical storms. When combined with the steadily rising temperatures of the water, increased current rotation inevitably creates more hurricanes with larger sizes and stronger organization. Continue Reading »