Freaky waves

[jimbo]

interesting. that is kind of weird... especially the part about coming from the east and pushing west. how big were they? how many? what shape?

that way you describe it, i really don't think it could be a whale. from what i've seen, whales really don't make waves as they cruise. if a whale breached you would know it.

i have seen waves way off shore on really smooth, greasy days and wondered where they came from. later i would spot a vessel that presumably made the wave. so, i think it's possible for boat waves to travel long distances (miles) when the conditions are just right. i suppose it's possible you may not have even seen the boat if it went away from you. could that have been possible at the position you were in? i know it doesn't really account for the smooth patch of water you observed though.

[bluesquids]

I was standing at the launch last week and felt the ground tremble. I didn't think it felt like an earthquake. I right away thought maybe cave in off the canyon or some type of offshore explosion.

[The Kid]

Originally Posted by bluesquids

I was standing at the launch last week and felt the ground tremble. I didn't think it felt like an earthquake. I right away thought maybe cave in off the canyon or some type of offshore explosion.

From my college days and taking several geology and oceanography classes:

A subsurface tremor or shift would impart a noticeable difference on the water's surface that would only be visible to those who are able to see the kinetic energy transferred onto the shoreline. Like during a tsunami when it is about to strike. However, when a vessel is on the water, the difference will not be noticed because the water is not being moved like the way wind moves water turning that movement into current. No the water will instead be a medium that transfers kinetic energy at a very high speed and will be so fast that one could not notice. Maybe if someone was on the edge of where a landslide occurred it could be noticed like that or it could be an area where the sand was soft and collapsed in upon itself forcing water into a vacuum and cause an effect similar to that of what creates a whirlpool. Any way I see it, seeing something like that would be something I would want to avoid. Unless a quintuple marker (500lb swordfish) came up and was hungry.

But the explosion would create a wake because the energy is released into the air lifting and dropping the mass of water creating a ripple. I hope the submarine doesn't get angry and fire on at me.

When did you feel the tremor?

That's just my input.

[bluesquids]

Originally Posted by The Kid

When did you feel the tremor?

It was the 19th around 3pm.
I checked the earthquake logs and nothing close by on that date, but on the 22nd and 23rd there was a couple 1.5's in San Diego that were contibuted to Quarry Blasts. Could explain what I felt but not the freak waves.