Sydney Tsunami 1868

[glenc]

HIGH tide had been at 5am that day, and by 8am sea levels in Sydney Harbour were dropping. Suddenly, "the waters, as if impelled by some extraordinary influence, returned up the harbour with great force", The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Further down the coast, at Jervis Bay, the ocean was surging into Currambene Creek. "It raced back in a similar manner, sweeping away a large portion of sand that impeded navigation," the paper noted. The date was August 15, 1868, and the previous day a large earthquake had rocked Chile, creating a massive tsunami... The event is highlighted in the first scientific study to catalogue all the tsunami that have battered the continent's coast. It reveals 37 have been reported in NSW in the past 150 years. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/the-next-tsunami-history-could-tell/2007/03/11/1173548022991.html

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Very interesting stuff Glen, thanks for that info. I have been aware of the potential risk to Australia & New Zealand of tsunami induced by South American earthquakes (nothing in betwen us all the way across the ocaen to block such a tsunami) but I hadn't realised it had actually happened in recorded times.

[h0ughy]

that would dampen your day! nice find

[GeoffW1]

Hi,

Referring to the SMH article, I can't follow how an earthquake in Chile could cause a tsunami at Shark Bay. I know these waves can turn a corner, but that would need 2 corners. I'd have to doubt it.

Cheers

Geoff

[Blue Skies]

Yeah, that's weird. The tsunami risk in WA is usually from Indonesia. The NW coast is a recognised tsunami risk zone. Perhaps it bounced off the African coast after travelling from the east.

I remember hearing a story about a tsunami topping the cliffs of Sydney harbour and this happened in the last 40,000 year as the local aboriginies remembered it. The speculation was it could have been caused by an asteroid impact. Is this under doubt?

[Ric]

Hi Blue Skies, there is also evidence of a mega tsunami in the rock layers of the far south coast of NSW near Merimbula, I have seen that layer for myself and it looks big judging by the coarse sediment size. It could possibly be the same one.

Cheers