UPDATED: Unusual wave hits coast
by Vanessa Macdonald, John Paul Cordina - editorial@di-ve.comCurrent Affairs -- 17 December 2008 -- 15:45CEST
The seawater in Ghadira rose suddenly on Wednesday at 0800h, sweeping up the bay and inundating the beach and concessions there.
One eye witness said that water swept up the bay – almost as far as the road – and did not subside for about 10 minutes.
Another person told www.di-ve.com that the water came up the beach, then went out nearly as far as the first set of buoys before rushing back again.
The phenomenon that occurred was likely to be a ‘seiche’, according to Dr Aldo Drago from the Physical Oceanography Unit at the University of Malta. He said that the seiche is common – and well known to fishermen - but it would be rare to have one as large as this. The wave is caused by atmospheric condition and starts in the open sea but its effect is magnified when it reaches shallow waters.
Dr. Drago said that the strongest oscillation was at 6am.
Seismic activity was ruled out by the Seismic Monitoring and Research Unit at the University of Malta.
The surge could also have been responsible for seawater flooding across the road in Msida.
Another person told www.di-ve.com that the water came up the beach, then went out nearly as far as the first set of buoys before rushing back again.
The phenomenon that occurred was likely to be a ‘seiche’, according to Dr Aldo Drago from the Physical Oceanography Unit at the University of Malta. He said that the seiche is common – and well known to fishermen - but it would be rare to have one as large as this. The wave is caused by atmospheric condition and starts in the open sea but its effect is magnified when it reaches shallow waters.
Dr. Drago said that the strongest oscillation was at 6am.
Seismic activity was ruled out by the Seismic Monitoring and Research Unit at the University of Malta.
The surge could also have been responsible for seawater flooding across the road in Msida.
Comments (1)
Could be a coincidence but today there was supposed to be a dramatic change in weather. Could it have something to do with it?