AboutKeith Patton Expertise I can answer questions concerning physical and historical geology, environmental geology/hydrology, environmental consulting, remote sensing/aerial photo interpretation, G&G computer applications, petroleum exploration, drilling, geochemistry, geochemical and microbiological prospecting, 3D reservoir modeling, computer mapping and drilling.I am not a geophysicist.
Experience I have 24 years experience split between the petroleum and environmental industries. I have served as an expert witness in remote sensing, developmental geologist, exploration geologist, enviromental project manager, and subject matter expert in geology and geophysical software development.
Organizations American Association of Petroleum Geologists
American Association of Photogrammetrists and Remote Sensing
Education/Credentials Bachelor and Master of Science
Registered Geologist in State of Texas
In a nutshell tsunamis are measured by a bouy system. The bouys detect tsunamis by links to satellites. The rise of the ocean as the wave passes and hits one bouy then another lets them estimate speed.
The rise lets them estimate amplitude or height of the wave.
The actual height of the wave at the shore really depends of a lot of factors, the shape of the coastline, if it is concave it will be higher as the coast will funnel the water in causing a dramatic increase in height. Also the depth of the water near shore will impact where the wave breaks. Deep water near shore results in a large wall of water, shallower water near shore results in the water near the beach pulling back followed by the break of the wave farther off shore resulting in a lower surge of water rolling in onto the beach. You can see both of these phenomena in the video of the tsunami in Indonesia and in Thailand.
