UCSB Science Line
Sponge Spicules Nerve Cells Galaxy Abalone Shell Nickel Succinate X-ray Lens Lupine
UCSB Science Line
Home
How it Works
Ask a Question
Search Topics
Webcasts
Our Scientists
Science Links
Contact Information
If a submarine was traveling underwater when a tsunami hit, would that submarine be effected in any way? If so, what can happen?
Question Date: 2013-11-17
Answer 1:

The submarine would not experience much of anything. The amplitude of a tsunami wave is rather small in the open ocean. It becomes large only where the depth of water is low as it is along a beach.


Answer 2:

The submarine would briefly experience very powerful currents driven by the cycling of the ocean. It might get carried to depths where its hull would not be able to resist the pressure and the ship would implode, but otherwise it would just get sucked around.

Of course if the submarine were too close to shore where the waves are breaking, then the sub would get smashed just like everything else.



Click Here to return to the search form.

University of California, Santa Barbara Materials Research Laboratory National Science Foundation
This program is co-sponsored by the National Science Foundation and UCSB School-University Partnerships
Copyright © 2020 The Regents of the University of California,
All Rights Reserved.
UCSB Terms of Use