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Seiche

25 September 2022
Geology

At https://phys.org/news/2022-09-mexico-earthquake-triggers-tsunami-miles.html … a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Mexico triggered a seiche 1500 miles away, in a cave. A wave up to four feet in height was observed in Devil’s Hole in Nevada, a cave in the Death Valley National Park. The pool of water 10 feet by 70 feet but some 500 feet in depth, has a history of responding to earthquakes. It seems seismic events from around the world can lead to splashing water in the cave according to the Death Valley National Park Service website. Typically, earthquakes around the Pacific ‘ring of fire’ that are above magnitude 7 will register at Devil’s Hole – which includes Japan, Indonesia, Chile, etc.

A seiche is a wave that oscillates in lakes, bays, and gulfs, from a few moments to a few hours, as a result of seismic or atmospheric disturbances. A standing wave oscillation of the water level. A seiche is the splashing of a closed body of water as a result of an earthquake shaking the ground, and the water attempting to adjust. See https://www.wordnik.com/words/seiche  … See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seiche … a standing wave in an enclosed or partially enclosed body of water. Seiches have been observed on lakes, reservoirs, swimming pools, in bays and harbours, and in caves. Apparently, swimming pools are especially prone to seiches caused by earthquakes as the ground tremors often match the resonant frequencies of small bodies of water. Ab earthquake in California in 1994 caused swimming pools to overflow across the State. An earthquake in Alaska in 1964 caused seiches in swimming pools as far away as Puerto Rico. The famous Lisbon earthquake in 1755 caused seiches as far away as Loch Lomond and Loch Ness in Scotland. Even in canals in Sweden. A cave seiche in September of 2019 occurred in Devil’s Hole which was a predecessor of the one this year, 2022. Earlier seiches were noticed at Devil’s Hole in 2012 and 2018, as a result of earthquakes. No mention of volcanoes. Are they capable of producing seiches?

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